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.