Transcript Crime Prevention - Florida Governor Rick Scott

Steve Mimbs
Chief of Police
Crime Prevention
Community Relations Division
Jane Meier
Neighborhood Watch
First Meeting
What is a Neighborhood Watch?
A voluntary
program organized
by concerned
citizens to reduce
crime and improve
living conditions in
their communities.
Watch Groups
• Are extra
and
for
reporting crime and suspicious behavior to
law enforcement.
it’s one of the most effective and
least costly ways to prevent crime.
A criminal’s job gets a lot tougher in a neighborhood
where people are watching out for each other.
•Phone Tree
•Citizens Patrol
•Improving Conditions
•Crime Prevention Training
Protecting Your Home

Watch Groups

Home Security
“Broken Window” theory
Neighborhoods that neglect minor signs of decay
and disorder are opening the door to crime.
One un-repaired broken window is a
signal that no one cares
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Neighborhood Watch
Citizen Crime Watch
Block Watch
Home Alert
Crime Watchers
Neighborhood Crime Watch
Get To Know Your Neighbors
Neighbors are often the
first to spot problems
Getting Started
•Form a planning committee
•Inform law enforcement
•Identify any problems
•Invite neighbors
•Meeting Agenda
First “Watch” Meeting
Introductions
Explanation of NW
Attendance / Data
Watch Coordinator
Block Captains
NW Chairperson
• Set up initial meeting
• Obtain block captains and set up data files
• Liaison between neighborhood and law enforcement
• Disseminate information to Block Captains
• Schedule location for meetings
• Welcome new neighbors and tell them about NW
• Keep master list of participants and emergency contact
Block Captains
•The Block Captain is responsible for a designated area
•Encourage neighborhood participation
•Disseminate information
•Assist Neighborhood Watch chairperson
•Welcome new neighbors
The duties of the block captain will offer very little change in
lifestyle for the citizen involved. Rather, it will provide a means for
meeting your neighbors as well as a vehicle for making your
community a safer place to live.
Benefits of a Neighborhood
Watch Program
•Education and Training by Law
Enforcement
•Unites the Community
• Reduces the Risk of Being a Crime Victim
•Unites the Community and increases
neighborhood cohesion
•Looking Out for Each Other
•Prevents and Reduces Crime
•Reduces fear of Crime in the Community
•Improves crime reporting by citizens
•Greater Access to Criminal Activity Information
The “Watch” Meetings
Training and Education
•Suspicious people
•Protecting Your Home
•Suspicious vehicles
•Protecting Your Vehicle
•Suspicious activity
•Lighting / Landscaping
•Neighborhood restoration
•Identity Theft
•How to report a crime
•Personal Safety
Questions ???????