Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch Stittsville-Kanata West Ward Safety in Your Community October 09, 2007

Introduction Good Evening! My name is Victor McNabney, I am a volunteer with Ottawa Police Service and work at the Kanata & Stittsville Community Police Centre (CPC) I am currently the Program Coordinator for Stittsville – Kanata West on two core crime prevention programs: Neighbourhood Watch & Home Security Inspection Program

Overview The community policing philosophy of the Ottawa Police Service is designed to include the community as an active partner in problem-solving and crime prevention. I’m going to take the next few minutes to outline to you one of the core crime prevention programs that reflects this philosophy That Program is Neighbourhood Watch

Overview I’m going to briefly describe; the program for you the workings of a Watch what it takes to get started the current state in Stittsville – Kanata West

Key Principle As we discuss this topic to-night I think it is important to lay out a key principle right from the beginning. It is the principle of the program being a community run program by you, the public, for your community. The Ottawa Police Service is here to support the program, but it takes you and your neighbours to get engaged and working together to make it happen. That Program is Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch Neighbourhood Watch is designed to: –reduce crime in the community –encourage neighbours to be alert for potential crime and look out for one another’s interests –combat crime before it starts by reducing the opportunities for crime to occur It’s based on the concept of good neighbours working together.

Neighbourhood Watch What it IS Membership in a Watch IS About making your home less inviting as a target for thieves. participating in Operation Identification, making your property more difficult for burglars to dispose of. being alert to suspicious activities in your neighbourhood. responding appropriately to potential threats. “For Neighbourhood Watch to be totally effective, each resident should take an active role in both security improvement and observation.”

Neighbourhood Watch What it is NOT Membership in a Watch is NOT About being a busybody being a vigilante time-consuming duties and obligations, once established –“ It does require some effort in the start up phase ” fees for a service – it’s free run by the community

A Watch has an organizational structure: Watch Coordinator  Responsible for the operation of the entire Watch Block Captain  Responsible for monitoring 10 – 20 Watch members Watch Members  Keeping your home secure  Remaining alert to any suspicious activity, and reporting it promptly to the Police  Monitoring your neighbours’ homes during their absences The organization functions within a 2 way communications tree that reflects this hierarchy, using telephony and the Internet. Workings of a Neighbourhood Watch

An active and effective Watch;  has representation and participation at local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator's quarterly meetings. Shares information and best practices with the other 2 NW programs in Kanata  communicates Crime Alerts and Crime stats amongst its members as they are issued by the CPC, on a timely and regular basis, respectively.  understands the roles of the two partners  identifies local Issues to the Community Police Centre Officer, who initiates resolution and responses by the Ottawa Police Service and the City of Ottawa

How to Get a Watch Going Step 1 – Determine the Level of Interest Step 2 – Contact the Community Police ext Step 3 – Canvass the potential Watch area Step 4 – Hold a Start Up Meeting Step 5 – Finalize the membership list Step 6 – Obtain signage for the Watch

Neighbourhood Watch in Stittsville There are currently 3 active Watches covering 12 streets; –Granite Ridge, with 8 streets –Riverbank Court –Arrowwood Drive, with 3 streets This represents a total of 165 members, or approx. less than 5% of the population of this Ward We are currently working with residents in the areas of Morningsun & Laird, Timbermere and Crossing Bridges, who have expressed interest in initiating new Watches, and we hope that we will have even more momentum, after to-night’s meeting.

Neighbourhood Watch in Stittsville To move forward we ask that you; digest the information provided discuss the merits of Neighbourhood Watch amongst your neighbours decide if you want to move forward go to Step Two and contact the Community Police Centre or myself

Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch We, at the the Kanata & Stittsville Community Police Centre, want to assist you in establishing and maintaining an active watch in your area. I can be reached at: Name:Victor McNabney Phone: ext 2001