SUE'S BLOG...
May 24, 2011
Take Ownership of Your Street
Are you feeling safe in your neighbourhood? Safety is a shared responsibility among many partners including the police, the government, community organizations and you.
That’s right… you!
You can take an active role in making the place where you live safer for yourself, your family and your neighbours! By getting to know your neighbours, you not only build a sense of community and friendship, you’re also watching out for one another and their property and actually deterring criminal activity.
Safe City Mississauga has a program that provides support and structure to this kind of proactive involvement called “Neighbourhood Watch.” There are more than 5,000 homes across the city that are registered with the program including a new Watch that has started near Perennial Drive here in Ward 10.
According to Safe City Mississauga, effective Watches see a decrease in crime of between 40% and 60% compared to neighbourhoods without them. If you want to learn more about setting up a Neighbourhood Watch or to register for the program—it’s free!—visit www.safecitymississauga.on.ca.
Safe City Mississauga is also hosting its annual Neighbours Night Out on Tuesday, June 21. Individuals host a neighbourhood gathering on their street, backyard or community gathering spot to get to know their neighbours. This tradition is a reminder that when neighbours join together, they can and do effectively deter crime. You can take the lead in organizing a “street party” for your neighbourhood; it’s not too late to register.
We’ve spent far too long living next to people we don’t know! Let’s take ownership of our street — get out there and meet your neighbours and build strong, safe communities!