Did you know that areas with a neighbourhood support group have less crime?

If your parents want to join a Neighbourhood support group they can contact your local police. The police can also provide some really good hints and tips on security.

In a natural disaster, like an earthquake, the first people who will be able to help you will be your neighbours, not the emergency services.

-Get to know your neighbours
-Join a neighbourhood support group or start your own – ask your local police station how
-Be sensible about security – don’t make it easy for burglars
-Lock your doors
-Get security latches for your windows
-Don’t leave the key under the mat.

Neighbourhood facts:

HOW TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR
If your neighbours are away, your family can help in many ways (if you know them)
Your family can offer to make their household looked 'lived' in by:
- turning on lights and television at night
- drawing curtains at night and opening them in the day
- mowing lawns
- clearing their mail, especially junk mail and newspapers
- using their clothesline or driveway sometimes
- Watch their home.
Then when your family goes away then the neighbour can then respond by returning the favour. (Paying it forward)

Neighbourhood Watch in New Zealand was started in the 1970’s (which means it is even older than Constable Bryan :0) to prevent crime. It changed its name to Neighbourhood Support in 2000.

Neighbourhood Support aims to make homes, streets, neighbourhoods and communities safer and more caring places in which to live

In different countries overseas Neighbourhood Support is sometimes still known as Neighbourhood Watch

The whole idea of Neighbourhood Support/Watch came from the city of Queens in New York in the 1960’s as people tried to keep their city safe from some awful crimes that were happening there

There are estimated to be over 25 million people in Neighbourhood Support worldwide... that’s a lot of neighbours talking to one another and keeping their community safe

For info on junior neighbourhood support visit the this website :
http://www.ns.org.nz/junior_ns.html

According to the New Zealand neighbourhood support site:
A Neighbourhood Support Group will: (and for more information on Neighbourhood support groups go to http://www.ns.org.nz )
- Encourage neighbours to talk to each other
- Share information that will help reduce the risk and fear of crime
- Help foster a sense of community spirit, where everyone is respected and valued
- Educate and empower neighbours to take responsibility for their own safety
- Identify the needs of neighbours and ways to assist each other
- Identify the strengths and skills of neighbours to contribute to solving local problems
- Minimise burglaries and car crime in the local area
- Reduce graffiti, vandalism, violence and disorder
- Support victims of crime
- Enhance the safety features and appearance of the neighbourhood
- Decide on ways to handle any civil emergencies that may occur
- Know when and how to contact Police, other emergency services or support agencies
- Liaise and co-operate with other community groups