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Getting started
These resources have been adapted from a binder intended to take you through the developement of a City Watch project. But this isn't a complete guide to tell you everything you need to know - it can't anticipate every possibility.
We hope it will give you an introduction to the program and some details on what others who have set up City Watch have done. It includes sample proposals, brochures, materials for workers and publicity. As a CUPE local, these are your resources too, so copy directly from any of the material shown.
To get started, you're going to want to organize a core team of members who are excited about the idea of City Watch because it's going to take a bit of work and you're going to be able to accomplish a whole lot more with more people helping out. Here are some of the people you should be talking to:
a. Local government officials:
A program that involves local public employees using city vehicles and city time can not succeed if city management is not on our side.
It's important to give the municipal manager or other senior administrators a chance to learn and understand what City Watch is. They must understand that:
- it does not need to cost the city a lot of money.
- it is an opportunity for the city, the workers, the local police and others in the community to work together to make the community a safer place.
- it can be done without interfering in the normal course of work.
Managers will need to know the program will require training time for the outside workers and the dispatchers, but that this time can be kept to a minimum and can be part of regular crew meetings.
The best material to share with local government officials is the publicity material from existing City Watch programs. This shows them what the program is and how it is working in other communities.
City officials are often in a position to recommend approval -- or disapproval -- of proposals to the elected officials. If you make sure that all their questions about how the program works are answered, they will feel more comfortable recommending support for it to the mayor and city council.
b. Local police:
Local police involvement is essential to a City Watch program. Most local police forces have designated community policing officers who are available to work with local residents on crime prevention. City Watch is just such a crime prevention program.
Try and meet with a police representative early. You can tell them about the City Watch program and how it is similar to Neighbourhood Watch in that it uses ordinary citizens to look out for suspicious activity and report it to the police.
It is useful to have your local police put its support in writing. This can be included in your material for your local government. With a letter from the police, there will be no question they are committed to the project.
While local police support is all that is needed initially, once the program is approved by your local government, the police will become very active in the program, including providing training for workers.