Neighbourhood Watch Areas run a variety of activities that are focused on:

• community crime prevention
• community connection.

Community crime prevention activities are projects that create safer, more secure local areas. These activities address existing crime problems within a community.

Community connection activities help community members get to know and support each other. Community connections can be built through activities that bring the community together. Research shows a positive connection between the strength of relationships between individuals and community crime levels.

“During a very insightful home security talk by a visiting police officer to our Neighbourhood Watch group, he mentioned that eye-level doorbell cameras are better for capturing facial recognition identifying features of potential front door intruders than overhead cameras (of which we have several). That was a useful piece of advice that we heeded and promptly installed one at our front door! It has come in useful.” – Neighbourhood Watch volunteer Robin

Community crime prevention activities

• Hold a working bee to clear and tidy a secluded public area.
• Work with the local council to create attractive shared areas where neighbours can socialise.
• Run a property engraving day.
• Organise a graffiti removal team.
• Share crime prevention tips and crime trend information through local newsletters or by hosting a stall at a shopping centre or community event.
• Partner with police to hold crime prevention seminars on topical issues such as scams and cyber safety.
• Provide a free security camera-installation service for local residents.
• Partner with police to hold a ‘coffee with a cop’ event.
• Stencil house numbers on kerbs so it is easier for emergency services to locate residences in an emergency.
• Fundraise for:
  • letterbox or electrical box locks to give to residents in high-risk areas
  • personal alarms for vulnerable residents
  • smart tags or GPS trackers for locating valuable items that are lost or stolen to give to residents who can't afford them
  • lighting or security cameras for secluded areas
  • bike helmets for residents who can't afford them
  • hi-vis vests for gopher riders.

Community connection activities

• Hold a street party.
• Organise a community picnic or barbecue.
• Host guest speaker events.
• Organise a public art project such as a wall mural or stobie pole mosaics.
• Start a community garden or verge garden project.
• Organise a neighbourhood clean up.
• Start a community library (street library).
• Run a quiz night at a local venue.
• Organise a neighbourhood map of houses participating in Halloween festivities.
• Hold a movie night at a local park or sports ground.
• Start up a walking or running group.
• Organise regular dog meets.
• Ask your local council to hold ‘how to’ seminars in your suburb or town on topics such as composting, water-wise gardens, applying for grants and energy saving.
• Start a Rail Care group and get involved in gardening, maintenance and public art projects at your local railway station
• Partner with local businesses to publish a calendar of local pets.

Check in with your local council or the appropriate authority if you plan to undertake a project or activity on public land. Approval for stobie pole art must be obtained from SA Power Networks. If you want to look after your local railway station, join Rail Care SA.