Neighbourhood watch is an activity unifying people from one apartment building or building district to keep an eye on the neighbourhood as agreed.
If any disturbance or suspicious activities catch someone’s eye, they inform the police which then reacts quickly according to the received information.People engaged in Neighbourhood Watch can make suggestions to house owners, apartment association board and the local government in order to prevent disorderly conducts and to make the neighbourhood a safer place.
The key of success is cooperation and exchange of information between house owners, local government and police.
You can ask the neighbours you know to keep an eye on your apartment, when you are not there, so that nothing suspicious could possibly go on.If you are not at home for a longer period of time, you can ask your neighbours to empty your mailbox, so the by passers would not notice that you are away.
Neighbourhood Watch also means you have someone keeping an eye on your car or bicycle in the courtyard.If there is no parking space under your apartment window, you can be sure that on the other side of the building lives someone you know and watches your car.
If neighbours know each other, social control increases among the dwellers – it is more embarrassing to misbehave if all the people are acquainted.Kids and young people would probably also behave when they realise that everyone knows their parents.
Neighbourhood Watch also gives the police certain contact persons to exchange information with about what is going on in the neighbourhood.
Neighbours who notice disorderly conducts around their homes, can also advise the police about when they should patrol and weather someone suspicious has been seen in the neighbourhood.In consequence the police can plan its work better and the security increases.
The chairman of the apartment association board and representatives of the local government could well hear such a big group of people out.It is also easier cover the expenses together.
To introduce the idea of Neighbourhood Watch and to put it into practice, the non-profit making association ESTONIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH was established.
The purpose of the association is to actively engage people in creating safe homes and neighbourhoods.The association offers knowledge and training to those interested, so they would find the inner strength and skills to prevent evil actions.
ESTONIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH is a place for exchanging information for all who wish to be engaged in Neighbourhood Watch movement and want to achieve something.
As our common representative ESTONIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH is an influential partner for national and local government, police as well as to security, insurance and lock companies.
