From newspaper headlines to lead stories on the TV news, crime seems to be an ever-growing concern on our Island home. It seems that almost everyone knows of someone who has had something stolen or broken as a result of vandals and burglars. The question is, how do you protect yourself?

The Bermuda Police launched the Neighbourhood Watch programme several years ago to help neighbourhoods come together and make a difference.

According to Community Beat Officer PC Rich Lathan: “The Neighbourhood Watch is a modernisation of an old concept of people who share common concerns in a common living zone.

“In this fast-paced world, it serves as a reason to slow down and get to know the face that lives on the other side of the yard, fence or hill, and is a means to share concerns, to talk about issues and to celebrate the good things about living in the community.

“Getting to know the neighbours gives a greater sense of security. A neighbourhood watch serves as a vehicle to empower people to be their own agents for change. The watch can be the place where common issues are discussed, concerns raised and resolved and information shared. As a result, this benefits the neighbours who establish relationships among themselves.

“From a safety and security perspective, this benefits law enforcement officers. It is easier to work with people in neighbourhoods who know each other and know what is going on with their fellow residents.”

One area that has recently launched its own Neighbourhood Watch is the Hilltop-Sandycroft area of Southampton. Rhonda Simmons is the neighbourhood co-ordinator.

“There were several reasons we decided to create a Neighbourhood Watch,” she says. “Residents were reporting more incidents of theft, break-ins and unfamiliar persons passing through the Tribe Road from the ‘tracks’.

“I believe it started when I decided to take matters into my own hands,” she continues. “I have had a connection to this neighbourhood all my life and I refused to just sit back and allow unwanted activities to occur. I called the police station and asked how I could go about establishing a Neighbourhood Watch. I was given the name of my Community Beat Officer and it started from there. Our initial meeting was in June 2005.”

According to Ms Simmons, much of the increase in break-ins and attempted break-ins in the area is likely related to the neighbourhood being situated between two known “crack-houses” along the Railway Trail, which is easily accessible by pedestrians.

“Our area, as a whole, is not adequately lit and improved lighting still remains one of our main concerns and objectives,” Ms Simmons points out.

While this community group is only a year old, they have begun to see some change in the area.

“Our area has actually become a community. Most residents now are more familiar with one another and know each other either by face or name. We tend to know at a glance who does and does not live in the area, and I believe all of us take the time to really observe what is going on around us.

“Currently, we are collecting funds to pay for Neighbourhood Watch signs and trying to make some headway with Belco and Works and Engineering to get our lighting issues resolved. We have also had one meeting geared around safety issues. I am also trying to help residents establish a Neighbourhood Watch in an area near the Lighthouse.”

PC Lathan, who took over as the community beat officer for this area a few months ago, says: “The Hilltop-Sandycroft neighbourhood has demographics and issues that make it as unique as every other neighbourhood. It serves as an example because people have chosen to come together to give their neighbourhood a voice and a vehicle for empowerment.

“Each neighbourhood has challenges and issues. Some neighbourhoods require a more active relationship with law enforcement partners to deal with these issues. The key ingredient in all of them is a willingness to take the time to work together for the betterment of the area.”

While the group has made a good start, they still have a lot of work ahead of them.

“It is difficult right now to see beyond the very important issues still unresolved on our plate,” Ms Simmons concedes. “I would love to see us do more activities as a community. Whatever our group does decide to do, it will be a collective decision.”

To organise a Neighbourhood Watch, PC Lathan advises that neighbourhood representatives contact the Community Beat Office through the Police exchange at 295-0011. Partnerships then must be formed between residents, landlords, businesses and legitimate users of an area with the Community Action Team of Community Beat Officers. These officers can than serve the community by connecting them with other resources, including the Police Crime Prevention Office, the Bermuda Fire Service, the Public Works Department, other government agencies and private organisations.

“Ideally, a minimum of eight to ten households will be needed to form a watch,” he says. “There is an organisational structure to the watch and their should be regularly scheduled meetings.

“Most of all, people should be ready to celebrate the power of coming together, especially since the hardworking officers of the Community Beat Office love a reason to celebrate.”