As many residents will know, the Obs Neighbourhood Watch (ONW) is an initiative started by David Raphael earlier this year. Two public meetings were held at the Community Centre in February, and the proposal to set up a Neighbourhood Watch was enthusiastically adopted.

David and Brian Gray were motivated in part by the success of the Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch, where crime has been reduced by over 60% in two years. They have some 2,000 household organised into 30 area blocks, each with its own coordinator and street leaders. They have a network of 180 two-way radios, and each block has its own newsletter and organises monthly meetings.

A committee has been set up with Brian Gray as Chairperson, David Raphael as Vice-Chair, and Dale Trow is managing the database and email communication. They will coopt more members. In addition Rick Seidle has set up space on the Heart of Obs website for ONW, and created two Google Groups, one for ONW (dealing with crime-related matters) and one for civic matters. The ONW google group has nearly 200 members; there are about 465 members of the ONW database. To date people with email are kept informed of developments – hence the need for a newsletter to reach all our members, as well as reach prospective members.

As a result of this initiative we already have far higher levels of cooperation with Woodstock SAPS (including combined foot patrols), a far higher police presence and visibility on our streets, and excellent reaction times from the Sector One Patrol Vehicle. Spt. Redelinghuys (our sector manager) is committed to making sector policing work, but needs our active cooperation!

The key to progress is (i) effective communication, and (ii) getting volunteers to come forward as street leaders and initiate contact (through postal drops and street or house meetings) with other members of the street. To date we only have street leaders for the following 20 streets: we urgently need to extend our network into streets not currently covered, and get a higher level of participation at street level.

The benefits in terms of increasing safety and security in our community are obvious. In particular: (i) Neighbours in the same street get to know each other, exchange contact numbers, and share information and ideas. (ii) We as a community get to work closely with Woodstock SAPS through sector policing, and through the Community Police Forum (CPF). The aim of the CPF is to establish a partnership between the community and the police. (iii) The more information we share and the closer our cooperation with Woodstock SAPS, the safer we will be. (iv) In addition ONW is seeking to liaise with ADT in setting up effective, dedicated bicycle patrols – but for this to work residents need to sign up and pay. (v) Last (but not least), joining ONW is free: it doesn’t cost a cent. There are only advantages; there is no downside!

Simply send an email to tonydale@iafrica.com or phone or SMS 082 394 6422 or drop off a note giving your name, contact numbers and email address (if any) with Cynthia at the Obs Community Centre or in the drop box outside her office.

ONW: IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS
David Raphael            072 065 7223    draphael@iafrica.com
Brian Gray                082 569 9381    graybr@iafrica.com         
Dale Trow – Data Base         082 394 6422      tonydale@iafrica.com  
Sector 1 or 3 Patrol Vehicle    082 443 5431/082 443 4606
Woodstock SAPS            021 442 3121

ONW Google Group  http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw