Next block party, let's talk safety

Spring is here, and that means good weather for neighbourhood block parties. Block parties are a great way to get together and meet with old and new neighbours alike. Very seldom is there an opportunity where adults and children of the neighbourhood band together and have so much fun.

Whether it's a simple gathering with just a few neighbours attending or a large event with several streets involved, why not include a Neighbourhood Watch meeting in your block party? This type of venue provides a relaxed setting for you and your neighbours to promote not only community spirit, but community safety.

What better way to keep neighbours informed and create a safe and secure environment in which to live. Having the police in attendance at your block party, listening to neighbourhood concerns, gathering the information and reporting back to you is the best available neighbourhood safety precaution.

Don't think that incorporating a joint venture with the police department is going to take the fun out of the event. The presentation from the community police would probably be complete in under an hour. The rest depends on the number of questions that you and your neighbours ask the attending officer.

With proper planning, the children could be off playing hide and seek or enjoying a scavenger hunt while the parents discuss their neighbourhood concerns over a potluck dinner. Concerns may range from the prevention of residential burglary to the reporting of all suspicious activities around the neighbourhood. Discussing these issues promote a stronger community with greater improvement to everybody's quality of life.

Unfortunately, law enforcement officers can't be everywhere all the time. Because of this limitation, we must become involved if we want to put a dent into crime. Collectively, neighbours know their environment better than anybody. The police department must tap into neighbourhood resources like Neighbourhood Watch to help combat crime.

One great addition to your block party would be to organize a child identification program through your police department. With children going missing each year, it's hard to believe that only 2 percent of parents have a copy of their child's fingerprints to use in case of emergency. So why not incorporate a child I.D. program for the youngsters with their face- or finger-painting fun.

Consider holding a spring symposium of safety in your neighbourhood, keeping in mind that the general purpose of this type of block party is based on the concept of people looking out for one another. At the same time, it lets potential criminals know that someone is watching out for them. This frames the foundation for crime prevention and reduces the criminals' desire to commit the crime.

Remember, reduced crime depends on the alertness of the people that live around you.