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Build a stronger community with crime prevention (3 min

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Build a stronger community with crime prevention (3 min

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Build A Stronger Community With Crime Prevention

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Community presents crime prevention solutions (2,5 min.)

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Community presents crime prevention solutions (2,5 min.)

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Community presents crime prevention solutions

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Social Crime Prevention in Trinidad (12 min.)

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Social Crime Prevention in Trinidad (12 min.)

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Crime Prevention Works (CPW) - Community Crime Prevention Programs

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Article contribution (Marle)

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The CrimeSolutions.gov Web site is a resource to help practitioners and policymakers understand what works in justice-related programs and practices. It includes information on justice-related programs and assigns evidence ratings--effective, promising, and no effects--to indicate whether there is evidence from research that a program achieves its goals.

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Summary article from involved actors (Kirza)

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Article + 15 words (Thimo)

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Article contribution from BSK (Thimo)

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Community Crime prevention and social media Article 1

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Community Crime prevention and social media Article 1

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Group 3

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It's an old idea made new: neighbourhood watch groups taking to Facebook and other social media platforms to keep a watchful eye on goings-on in their areas.

Such groups have footholds across Winnipeg's digital map, sprouting up lately in areas including Windsor Park, River Heights and Wolseley, allowing neighbours to share posts advising others of crime, security issues or suspicious interlopers on their streets.

But a University of Manitoba criminologist warns that if they're not done properly, the groups can harm, not help, the neighbourhoods they represent.

Frank Cormier spoke to host Trevor Dineen on CBC Manitoba's Up to Speed on Friday.

The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
How helpful are Facebook neighbourhood watch groups when it comes to reducing crime?

They can be, in theory, quite helpful. Criminologists, we look at something we call social disorganization in neighbourhoods, and that's something that often results in a situation where neighbours don't know each other very well.

So in neighbourhoods, for example, that have high in-and-out migration - a lot of turnover of the people who live there - people might not know their neighbours, they might not speak to their neighbours, and so they remain unaware of things that are happening.

They don't recognize when there is, perhaps, a strange or suspicious individual in the neighbourhood, and therefore they're less likely to notice when things are, you know, going wrong in the neighbourhood, whereas if they were in communication with each other, they would be more aware and they perhaps could take steps to try to address the problem.
What are the differences between those real-life programs and these Facebook groups?
The Neighbourhood Watch program has been around for, you know, 50 years now, I think, in the United States and Canada and other parts of the world, so it's a very similar idea in that it's a network whereby neighbours stay in touch with each other, keep each other apprised of issues in the community, sort of look out for each other.

So using Facebook or other social media, it's just really an extension of something that's been around for a while.

One of the potential dangers, though, with new technology - there's always that double-edged sword - is that there have been examples where these Facebook groups have actually started to divide neighbourhoods more than they have brought them together.
How so?
One problem is that very often, there's not sort of a full inclusivity where people take great steps to ensure that everyone in whatever the designated neighbourhood is ... is invited and everyone is really encouraged to take part.

There are cases where you might have a small sub-group in the community, people that already know each other - you know, they're like-minded people - and they start a group and it becomes exclusive to them, rather than inclusive.

And there have been cases where we end up with, if I can use a popular culture reference, sort of a Mean Girls situation, where there's almost a clique that sort of runs the group and the Facebook group becomes more of a "burn book," so to speak, for gossip and attacking other people than it becomes a uniting community resource.
Some posts in these groups include photos or descriptions of people accused of crimes. What are the dangers of sharing these kinds of posts?
There's a number of dangers inherent there. Sharing information can be a good thing. But the problem, and I think we've all observed this, [is] online behaviour can often differ quite severely from our normal in-person social behaviour, and ... people might feel emboldened to make accusations or attacks on people electronically that they wouldn't otherwise.

There have been cases, mostly in the United States to this point, where people were taking photographs of people or making videos of them and posting those to the site and describing them as being suspicious or imputing some, you know, nasty motives to them when these people were perfectly innocent of anything.

And that's when we start getting into dangers of invasion of privacy and possible liability issues. There's civil liability, where they could be found to be libelous ... where you defame someone's character incorrectly, or even gets into criminal matters such as harassment or making threats.
What advice would you give to people who are moderating these Facebook groups to make sure they don't get out of hand?
That is the key, is that there has to be an active moderator who will screen posts and comments people make, and there should be a clear list of rules.

A list of rules to start with, to say we will not, you know, accept posts that are threatening or harassing, etc., etc., and then somebody really does have to screen and moderate those and remove any comments that are moving into more negative territory.

Also, as I mentioned before, inclusivity is the really important part. There has to be a real effort made to get the entire neighbourhood involved in it and included in it, again, to make sure that you're bringing people together rather than fostering anger and resentment and thereby driving people further apart.
Can these Facebook groups work harmoniously with traditional police neighbourhood watch programs?
That's an excellent suggestion that I would make, is that neighbourhoods or groups that are thinking of starting this sort of thing should first consult with the local police. Here in Winnipeg, there still are a number of neighbourhoods that still have fully functioning neighbourhood watch programs.

The police do keep in fairly close contact with those groups and will offer support and advice and can designate a liaison person, so if there are concerns, rather than sort of venting those and perhaps moving into vigilantism, there's one contact person who can speak with the police and the police can advise and assist as necessary.

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Is your neighbourhood Facebook group keeping people safe or just becoming a 'Burn Book?' | CBC News

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It's an old idea made new: neighbourhood watch groups taking to Facebook and other social media platforms to keep a watchful eye on goings-on in their areas. Such groups have footholds across Winnipeg's digital map, sprouting up lately in areas including Windsor Park, River Heights and Wolseley, allowing neighbours to share posts advising others of crime, security issues or suspicious interlopers on their streets.

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Community Crime prevention and social media Article 2

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Community Crime prevention and social media Article 2

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Group 3

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Residents and police in Hackney are trialling the use of a new app designed to share information about crime and anti-social behaviour.

Between 300 to 400 residents in Hackney are registered users of the community app Trygve which is used and endorsed by the Metropolitan Police.

Residents log incidents on the app and give descriptions of suspects and other relevant information to help the police in their investigations. Users can share and receive local incident information in real time and it allows people to collaborate by commenting on events or collaborate on fighting crime together. Police in London use the app to post news of arrests, warn residents of repeating crimes in the area and appeal to the public for information.

The app was also trialled in Enfield and Southwark in November last year but has been found to be most effective in Hackney.

According to Trygve, the app has helped tackle drug dealing in the borough. Residents have logged the registrations of cars, mopeds and bikes believed to be involved in drug dealing. The police then used the information to send notices to the vehicle owners and some were visited by the police.

Trygve said that residents were left frustrated when they tried to report crimes by phoning 101 but were left on hold and their concerns were not resolved. The app has been seen as a way of ensuring that residents have a platform to report all criminal concerns and help the police to build evidence.

This new digital approach to tackling crime allows for the Safer Neighbourhoods Team to engage with the local community to tackle issues of anti-social behaviour.

The Met Police support the use of the app and police officers are encouraged to use it in their local policing. Sergeant Bill Connor, of the Territorial Policing branch of the Met , said: "In supporting our national Neighbourhood Watch, we are also supporting the systems they use, including Trygve."

In June 2017, the crime rate in Hackney was higher than average for the Metropolitan Police force area and in October 2017, 241 crimes were reported in Hackney Central alone. In Hackney Downs, Anti-social behaviour counted for 23% of the overall crime rate in October and November with 412 cases being reported to the police.

Trygve started working with the Metropolitan Police in January this year to improve engagement between police officers and residents. Sheona Urquhart, the UK manager for Trygve, told EastLondonLines: "We've worked alongside the local Met Police Safer Neighbourhoods teams in various Hackney wards. The Hackney council community safety department has also become involved, through their work with local police."

The app, launched in Sweden in 2015, was introduced in the UK last June. It also provides users with a personal safety alarm that can notify the nearby public if they need immediate assistance; it can be triggered manually if the user feels unsafe.

One Hackney resident who wanted to remain anonymous told ELL: "Being a part of Trygve has allowed me to get to know my neighbours and local police much better and I feel a part of something bigger.

"It's nice to know that other people in the community feel the same way as I do regarding certain issues. It's also reassuring that we can voice these concerns to local police and get a response."

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'Neighbourhood Watch' app used by Hackney residents to tackle crime | Eastlondonlines

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Residents and police in Hackney are trialling the use of a new app designed to share information about crime and anti-social behaviour. Between 300 to 400 residents in Hackney are registered users of the community app Trygve which is used and endorsed by the Metropolitan Police.

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Community Crime prevention and social media Doc

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Community Crime prevention and social media Doc

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Group 3

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Community Safety and Crime Prevention Initiatives at the City of Stirling in 2016

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This video provides an overview of the services provided by the City of Stirling's Community Safety team, and how community safety and crime prevention initiatives are implemented at the City of Stirling.

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Members of a North End watch group went door knocking with police in the William Whyte neighbourhood Friday to spread safety tips after a spike in property crimes in the area, but some residents want assurance they'll soon see more officers patrolling the streets.

The Bear Clan patrol joined in to help spread the word about a new Winnipeg police awareness campaign, dubbed the Home Smart Safety Initiative. It aims to give people practical reminders to help keep their homes, garages and vehicles safe from break-ins.

Locking doors when home or away, not announcing you're on vacation on social media, and keeping driveways, doorways and garages well-lit in the evening are all helpful deterrents, police said.

What would help ease nerves more than a list of safety tips, says 26-year-old mother Pho Mue Naw, is more boots on the ground.

"[It's] not safe for my kids sometimes ... I'm scared," Naw said from a neighbour's porch on Magnus Avenue.

"I want more police driving around in the area. I want to see more police."

Naw has been living with her family on Alfred Avenue for six years, and in that time she says her vehicle has been broken into and the door to her home damaged.

Susan Chief lives nearby on Aberdeen Avenue and hasn't been the victim of a break-in, but she chalks that up to a particularly toothy form of security.

"It's almost happened to me, but I've got a big dog," she said.

Chief got involved with the Bear Clan about a year ago after meeting co-founder James Favel on one of his regular community patrols. Concerns over loose needles and drugs on the street encouraged her to contribute her time and energy.

"I see a lot of stuff that goes on," Chief said, adding homeowners appreciated the chance to chat property safety.

"Everybody that we've spoke to so far, they all say it's an excellent idea ... that we're out doing this today [with police]," Chief said.

Look out for your neighbour

Bob Geddes lives in St. James with his wife, who is from Long Plain First Nation. After retiring from the military, he learned of the Bear Clan's attempts to build a greater sense of community in the North End and got involved with the patrol.

Adding more police isn't necessarily always the answer, he said.

"The community really needs to look out for themselves, and they do that," Geddes said.

"By being in the community without weapons, without force, being a non-violent, de-escalating type of presence, I think we fit with the community very well. But again, at the end of the day, when things get bad you really need to call the police.

"With the Bear Clan, we can't be here 24/7 like a lot of people would like us to be, but when we are on the streets we do see a very positive difference and we just try to work with the police at opportunities like this to help them communicate better with the community at large."

Break down barriers

Patrol Sgt. Phil Penner said property crime in general has been on the rise, with the William Whyte neighbourhood hit particularly hard. The safety initiative isn't just about determining what's causing the uptick in break-ins and thefts, he said.

"I think part of why we're out today is to also break down some barriers," Penner said.

"Not only are we out to try to give some crime-prevention tips, but we're out to engage with the community, engage with the homeowners, engage with the residents and let them know we're in the area to help."

Jamie Blumden, inspector in charge of the Winnipeg Police Service's North End division, said the Smart Safety Initiative is an evidence-driven strategy that comes down to putting resources in "hot areas" where crime data indicates they're needed most.

Blumden says every week, updated crime-trend data will be communicated to respective divisions, which are then expected to adjust patrols and increase police visibility in certain areas accordingly.

"If another area is sort of lower in crime but it's getting out of the norm, we sort of concentrate on that," he said. "It's targeting areas where the crime is getting out of hand."

Police may focus on another neighbourhood in the near future, although Blumden said that decision will be based on crime trends.

Watch groups on rise, too

The Bear Clan Patrol has been established in Winnipeg's inner city for several years, coming back from a long hiatus after being active in the 1990s.

In recent weeks and months, several other groups have taken Bear Clan Patrol's lead, including one group in Wolseley and two others, Transcona Troopers and 204 Neighbourhood Watch.

Favel said he was honoured to walk side by side with police on Friday to help deliver an important message that goes beyond reducing property crime.

"For Bear Clan, when we're on the streets we're about people, not property," Favel said.

"Safety in your community is not rocket science, it's about being engaged, paying attention to your surroundings and talking to the people around you. I really want to see a rise in people communicating with one another ... that's the basis of a strong community."

Favel encourages anyone with an interest in starting a similar watch group to contact the Bear Clan Patrol and get their policy and procedure manual for free.

Facts on break-ins from Winnipeg police

Most break-ins happen between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Most garage break-ins happen between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Most break-in entries happen through front and back doors, nearly half of which are unlocked.

The average break and enter event occurs in less than three minutes.

Home Smart Check List: Winnipeg police

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Bear Clan helps police promote safety campaign after spike in North End property crime

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Members of a North End watch group went door knocking with police in the William Whyte neighbourhood Friday to spread safety tips after a spike in property crimes in the area, but some in the area want assurance they'll soon see more officers patrolling the streets.