Neighbourhood Watch is an international program started by New York Police in
1977, in response to rising crime. Police held meetings with local community
leaders. With police support, communities set up strategies to combat crime,
utilising crime prevention methods around personal, home and car safety. The
success rate of Neighbourhood Watch spread rapidly to Canada, The United
Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
North Shore
In 1993, North Shore Neighbourhood Watch established a community based
program managed by a retired Senior Sergeant located at the original Takapuna
Police Station. In 2001, the group became an Incorporated Society, changed the
name to North Shore City Neighbourhood Watch/Support Inc, and applied for
affiliation to the then new national body of Neighbourhood Support NZ Inc.
