Northern beaches set to get Neighbourhood Watch reboot following anti-social behaviour

A spate of northern beaches youths being viciously assaulted and underage drinking leading to anti-social behaviour has prompted a call for Neighbourhood Watch to be reintroduced.

Residents are pushing for the reintroduction of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme on the northern beaches to counter what they say is a recent rise in anti-social and criminal behaviour. Picture: Paul Guy

Residents concerned by what they believe is a spike in anti-social and criminal behaviour on the northern beaches are resurrecting the Neighbourhood Watch community policing scheme.

Locals around Belrose and Davidson have organised an information session to help set up citizen committees to “make our community a safer place for all”.

A graffitied Neighbourhood Watch sign. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

And if it’s a success, they hope to spread the scheme to the rest of the northern beaches.

Neighbourhood Watch was established in NSW in 1984 in response to a dramatic increase in the crime rate, mainly generated by the use of illicit drugs.

On its current website NSW Police said that Neighbourhood Watch was “a community based, crime prevention organisation that aims to reduce localised crime and fear of crime”.

Now Belrose resident Libby Paulsen is pushing for the reintroduction of that scheme by urging locals to become the eyes and ears of the police.

Residents will be encouraged to “watch, record and report” examples of criminal and anti-social behaviour such as vandalism, graffiti, drug taking and underage drinking.

The scheme has the backing of Northern Beaches Councillor Pat Daley, who was formerly the face of Neighbourhood Watch when he was a serving police officer.

Pat Daley, then in the NSW Police, speaking at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting in the 1980s. Picture: Supplied

Cr Daley who is a board member of Neighbourhood Watch Australasia, said the re-establishment of the scheme was a response to recent incidents of alcohol abuse involving young people and the related issues of assault and vandalism.

The push for community policing also comes as the council last week called on residents to report examples of vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

“While the northern beaches has a relatively low crime rate, there have been some incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour this summer so we’re asking you to keep your eyes open,” it said on its website.

A graffiti attack last week on public amenities at Careel Bay Sportsground. Picture: Supplied

“If we all work together, we can make the northern beaches an even safer place to live and enjoy.”

Ms Paulsen said that discovering that there were many concerned people in her neighbourhood spurred her push for Neighbourhood Watch to be rebooted.

“I started talking to people in the area who were well aware that over the past couple of years there has been a huge increase in anti-social behaviour.

“They actually set fire to the old Belrose library site next door to Glenrose shopping centre.

“Yesterday I noticed that they’d pulled the fire extinguishers out of the loading docks at Glenrose and (the extinguishers) were sitting on the reserve.”

A fire at the abandoned Belrose library building that residents say was deliberately lit. Picture: Supplied

Residents have also been reporting seeing, from their homes, youths smoking drugs in public reserves.

“If you don’t report, then it doesn’t get recorded and the police think there is nothing going on in the area,” Ms Paulsen said.

There are active Neighbourwood Watch committees in the Freshwater-Queenscliff area and around Terrey Hills-Duffys Forest.

Cr Daley said that in the 1980s Neighbourhood Watch had an immediate impact reducing home break and enters by nearly 50 per cent in three years.

“The concept of community policing is here to stay and as board member of Neighbourhood Watch Australasia I fully support this initiative.”

Representatives from Neighbourhood Watch NSW and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia will be at Glenrose Shopping Village from 8.30am to 3.30pm on Saturday, February 13 where residents can register their interest.