Downtown residents form Neighbourhood Watch

BARRIE - A downtown resident association is the latest in the city to initiate a neighbourhood watch program, according to Barrie’s crime prevention officer Const. Angela Butler.

“There are now more than 50 neighbourhood watch programs throughout the city,” said Butler, who has helped establish five of those programs since she took over her new role last fall.

“Your neighbours are more likely to know who you are – your visitors, your schedules – than police on patrol. It’s definitely a proactive approach to creating a safe city.”

The Barrie Downtown Neighbourhood Association (BDNA) originally discussed a watch program when the resident group was in the early stages of organizing last year, but got serious about going forward with the initiative last month.

“It took us months to just get formed and decide what direction we wanted to go in,” recalled BDNA member Karen Fox, who attended a public information with Butler late last month.

“We’re at the stage where we’re recruiting for participants,” reported Mike Fox, a member of the BDNA’s crime and safety committee. “Right now we’re looking for captains for the neighbourhoods. Then Const. Butler will run a more focused training session.”

Because of the expansive area included in the BDNA, many captains are required to provide full coverage.

“Some have 30 households, or even double that,” said Butler. “With everyone’s support we can do it. You don’t have to have the support of everyone, but that’s better.”

Fox said the group is first focusing on the residential area directly adjacent to the city’s commercial core.

“It’s not meant to be time intensive,” he explained. “If it gets to be too large an area, it’s too cumbersome and large to manage.”

The first step in establishing a watch is creating interest and hosting a meeting, Butler told a full house at the Barrie Community Health Centre.

The event began with a few words from Ward 2 Coun. Jeff Lehman who was instrumental in BDNA’s formation. MP Patrick Brown also showed up to reinforce the federal government’s commitment to crime prevention.

Once a group is committed to the program, Butler will distribute signage and homes are assessed to determine how to make them less attractive for criminal activity.

Getting a dog can also help, she suggested.

“It’s one of the best deterrents for break and enters,” she explains. “These are crimes of opportunity. They’ll think twice if they see the Beware of Dog sign. Dogs create noise and attract attention.”

Shrubbery and exterior lighting are also among the features of homes and businesses that are examined during a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment.

Going forward, Butler will be supporting neighbourhood watches by posting a newsletter and tip sheet on the program website on the first day of each month.

For information on Barrie Neighbourhood Watch programming, click here, or call Butler at 725-7025, ext. 2926.