Starting a neighbourhood watch can make your community safer. By working together, your community can reduce and stop crime and build a sense of unity and alertness in your area.

Difference between a neighbourhood watch and a community policing forum

A neighbourhood watch is a grassroots effort by a community to keep an eye out for suspicious activities to report to the police. A neighbourhood watch focuses on residents preventing crime by reporting suspicious activities or by reporting crimes. Members patrol their neighbourhoods to do this.

A community policing forum is legally established. Community members who belong to the forum regularly and actively engage with the police to discuss local crime issues and solve problems. The community and the police work together to solve problems. A community policing forum has a bigger problem-solving approach because it is a more formal partnership between the police and the community. Contact your local police station and work with police representatives to learn the legal steps to set up a forum. You can get helpful tips about how to start a community policing forum here.

Steps for setting up your neighbourhood watch

1. Identify the need

   • Look at the safety issues in your neighbourhood and decide if you need a neighbourhood watch.

2. Gather community support

   • Talk to your neighbours to see if they want to set up a neighbourhood watch and get their support.
   • Use community meetings, flyers, and social media to spread the word.

3. Establish a core team

   • Create a team of volunteers who will lead the neighbourhood watch.
   • Give members roles like coordinator, secretary, and communication officer.

4. Develop a plan

   • Plan the goals and actions of the neighbourhood watch.
   • Decide how often to have meetings and patrols.

5. Coordinate with local authorities and police

   • Work with local police to get support and advice.
   • Attend police meetings and workshops to learn about crime trends.

6. Form communication channels

   • Create a way to talk, like a WhatsApp group, to share information quickly.
   • Make sure all members know how to communicate.

7. Organise training sessions

   • Plan training events on safety, reporting crime, and what to do in emergencies.
   • Invite experts to provide insights and advice.

8. Launch the neighbourhood watch

   • Have a start event to introduce the neighbourhood watch to everyone.
   • Encourage ongoing participation and feedback from residents.

More information

You can contact your nearest police station for more help with starting a neighbourhood watch.

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

How to set up a community group

How to start a WhatsApp group

How to start a residents' association

How to set up a community policing forum

How to set up a neighbourhood watch

How to organise community action

How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.