What is Neighbourhood Watch?

Neighbourhood Watch is a community based crime prevention program that aims at reducing the incidence of preventable crime such as burglary and theft as well as promoting closer community ties. The program educates residents on security and safety and the reporting of suspicious incidents to the Police.

Where is Neighbourhood Watch?

Neighbourhood Watch can operate anywhere in Queensland that is shown to have a need for the program. The program operates within a local community where there is a demonstrated community desire to undertake the program.

What are the key strategies of Neighbourhood Watch?

1. Operation Identification.
2. Keeping residents informed.
3. Increasing resident's awareness and knowledge.
4. Sign posting areas.

When should I call the Police?

Call the Police whenever you see a crime being committed or when you believe that a crime will soon be committed due to something suspicious happening. It may be as simple as a person sitting in a car in the street for some time. It is much better for the Police to investigate and ascertain that a crime has not been committed, than for your neighbour to be the victim of a crime. For general queries and non-urgent assistance please call your local Police Station. For emergency call the Police, Ambulance and Fire Brigade on "000".

What is Property Identification?

Property Identification is the recording of an identifying mark on your property to discourage its theft. Most items can be marked with an electric engraver. Items unsuitable for engraving can be marked with an ultraviolet pen which leaves a chemical that is visible under an Ultra-Violet (UV) Light. Items unsuitable for marking can be photographed next to a ruler or coin to show a size relationship.

If you have a mobile phone, we do not recommend that you engrave your details into the phone as it may void the manufacturers warranty. We recommend the use of a 'UV' pen in this situation.

The engraver, UV pen and stickers are available from your Zone Representative or Area Co-ordinator. You can also purchase ultraviolet pens at major hardware stores or office suppliers.

I want to be involved but haven't got much time. How much time do I need?

You may wish to be involved at local, district or state level. Locally, there are a number of positions available where your assistance is needed. These include Zone Leaders, Area Co-ordinator, Publicity Officer/Newsletter Editor, Secretary, Treasurer or as an assistant to any one of these positions. The time required can be as little as a couple of hours per month. This is all the time that it takes to deliver your Zone's newsletters.

You may wish to be more actively involved by being elected to a district position. These positions require a little more of your time but there are always others waiting to assist where possible and make your job easier.

You may wish to assist the program by being elected to one of the Executive Positions in the State Forum.

The State Forum meets every two months.

What defines a Neighbourhood Watch area?

A Neighbourhood Watch area is defined geographically by the Police Co-ordinator.

A metropolitan area usually consists of approximately 600-800 homes with the location of other existing area boundaries being taken into consideration. The area boundaries never overlap; ideally they will abut each other. Larger provincial cities will encompass areas defined as metropolitan by definition.

A rural area consists of between 100-150 farming properties. Some rural areas may also include small towns.

Each area is sub-divided into smaller blocks called zones to simplify the management of the area.

Depending on the size and geography of the area, it is possible for a Neighbourhood Watch area to have as many as 35 zones or as few as 15 zones. The number of zones depends entirely on the geography of the area and how many homes the volunteers can effectively and efficiently service.

What defines a zone?

A Neighbourhood Watch zone is defined geographically by the Police Co-ordinator.

There are a number of zones in every Neighbourhood Watch area.

A metropolitan area consists of approximately 600-800 homes with the location of other existing area boundaries being taken into consideration.

A rural area consists of between 100-150 farming properties. Some rural areas may also include small towns.

Each area is sub-divided into smaller blocks called zones. This is to simplify the management of the area. Each zone may include up to 30 homes.

Depending on the size and geography of the area, it is possible to have as many as 35 zones or as few as 15 zones. The number of zones depends entirely on the geography of the area and how many homes the volunteers can effectively and efficiently service.

What is a PLO?

A PLO (Police Liaison Officer) is nominated by your local Police Station Commander. The PLO may be permanently rostered to this role or the PLO may change each time you meet with him/her. The PLO is an operational police officer and can be of any rank, although generally speaking he/she is a constable, senior constable or a sergeant.

As the title implies, your area's PLO is there to liaise with your area. The PLO's role is to attend at your area meetings and furnish appropriate crime information, general details of arrests in your area, answer your questions and discuss local non-political issues with you. He/she is an aid and a tool to be utilised to assist in the smooth running of your area. A clever area gets to know their PLO very well.