NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
In many Western countries, in response to the growing wave of crimes against life and health, as well as property, so-called “neighborhood watches” were established at the initiative of residents of housing estates, districts or single-family homes. Such initiatives have also emerged in our country and voivodeship. Several dozen spontaneously formed groups are now operating, patrolling in teams of 2–4 people, either spontaneously or as needed, at various times of day and night, the places most at risk of crime in their own neighborhoods. For patrolling, these groups use their own cars equipped with CB radios, or travel on foot with portable radiotelephones, operating on the emergency channel (9).
YOU TOO CAN INITIATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH IN YOUR AREA.
If you know your neighbors well and know that they think the same way you do and are willing to join activities aimed at ensuring safety and public order where they live—TALK TO THEM.
If you conclude that this initiative will produce the desired results, you can turn to members of the local government, who should help you organize a “Neighborhood Watch,” since such undertakings fall, among other things, within their responsibilities.
Representatives of the Local Committees for Law and Public Order should be particularly helpful in carrying out your plans.
BASIC OBJECTIVES AND METHODS OF OPERATION OF THE “NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH”
-creating patrols consisting of 2–4 people,
-patrolling places particularly at risk of crimes, offenses, acts of hooliganism, vandalism, etc.,
-establishing close contact with community police officers,
-informing the police, using available means of communication (CB radio), about crimes that have occurred or attempts to commit them,
-observing the scene of the incident, the perpetrators’ methods and behavior, and remembering their appearance (clothing, description) and the characteristics of the vehicle in which they are traveling (make, color, license plates), as well as determining the direction in which the perpetrators fled after committing the crime,
-maintaining close communication (by telephone or radio) with the duty service of the nearest police unit and keeping it constantly informed about the development of the situation,
-if you believe that you are able to apprehend the perpetrators using your own strength, without endangering your life or health, you may do so, since Article 205 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that:
“Anyone has the right to apprehend a person caught in the act of committing a crime or during a pursuit undertaken immediately after the commission of a crime and hand that person over to the police if there is a fear that the person may hide or if their identity cannot be established.”