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Be proactive about crime prevention and community safety

Becoming involved in your neighbourhood can improve its overall safety and can help prevent crime from taking place. If you get to know your neighbours – who comes and goes from the house, if they are having work done, or if they are away on a holiday – you will be better able to recognize when something is not right. Crime prevention can range from simple activities like watching your neighbour’s property when they are not home to reporting suspicious activities on a property, or starting a neighbourhood association or Neighbourhood Watch to address problems. Whatever level of organization you choose to take on, being vigilant and concerned about what happens in your neighbourhood and encouraging others to do the same will benefit everyone.

You should always remember, however, that your own personal safety is very important. When approaching any kind of situation in your neighbourhood, you should always consider your personal safety and use common sense. You don’t want to get yourself into a situation that might be dangerous to you or others, and you never want to take the law into your own hands. Throughout this toolkit there are phone numbers, email addresses and other resources that will point you in the right direction when you need help. There is nothing wrong with being a concerned and active citizen and working with your neighbours to make your neighbourhood a safer, happier place to live, but you should always do this with your own safety and the safety of others in mind.