Neighbourhood security organizations need volunteers.
Since the beginning of 2008 the Neighbourhood Watch program in Prince Albert has been a non-entity, said Jarett Taylor, the organization's former president.
He said an inability to attract and retain individuals interested in participating has resulted in the group's hiatus in activity.
"All we want you to be is the eyes and ears of your community," he said.
Involvement with Neighbourhood Watch requires no commitment of time or money from participants. They need only pay attention to happenings in their community and report suspicious activities to police or to program directors.
"You have to know your community," he said. "You have to know your neighbours."
For those volunteering at a director level, Taylor estimated a time contribution of between nine and 12 hours a year.
The group's design revolves around the dissemination of information.
"It gives you the information on how to report things," said Taylor.
Also, participants can meet and prioritize goals for their community.
Taylor explained that simple things like the installation of outdoor lighting can have a dramatic effect, and that government agencies are often willing to provide some funding for such initiatives.
Taylor dispelled the reputation of Neighbourhood Watch participants as nosy neighbours. He put the emphasis on simply being aware of surrounding activity.
Sgt. Jason Stonechild of the City Police said the Block Parent program is a greater priority for the police and that traditionally the police had only a peripheral role in Neighbourhood Watch.
As a result of recent advertising efforts for the Block Parent program, Stonechild said the police have received a response from only one individual in Prince Albert.
Block Parents are required only to hang a placard in their window, and be willing to help a person, particularly children, in need of assistance.
"The best way to patrol your neighbourhood ... is to use your neighbourhood," said Jayne Remenda, executive director of the Prince Albert Downtown Improvement District Association.
The association has been operating a community patrol program for the last three years. It is funded by downtown businesses and is restricted to that area.
Similar to Neighbourhood Watch and the Block Parent program, Remenda has found it difficult to find volunteers.
Individuals interested in becoming a Block Parent or helping with Neighbourhood Watch can contact City Police at 953-4222.
The downtown association can be contacted at 763-1802.
Community groups need you to help fight crime
Neighbourhood security organizations need volunteers.
Since the beginning of 2008 the Neighbourhood Watch program in Prince Albert has been a non-entity, said Jarett Taylor, the organization's former president.
He said an inability to attract and retain individuals interested in participating has resulted in the group's hiatus in activity.
"All we want you to be is the eyes and ears of your community," he said.
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Comments
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- no it does not matter
- - November 20th, 2009 at 06:24:24
Blondie-I have news- no one cares- we've all had it up to here with coddling these people and their bad habits-there used to be a very accurate saying- you live by the gun-you die by the gun -that meant you took responsibility for your actions-if you chose to carry and use a gun on people then someone would eventually use a gun on you-well same goes for the addicts-they chose to stick that needle in their arm-they can deal with the consequence-there's a million square miles of forest with beutiful rivers and streams around us-if you wanted to kick a habit you could just walk out into the forest and kick it-period-get back to nature and away from the man made chemicals you chose to stuff into your body-and yes druggies may pay for their drugs but where do you think the money comes from??? Either from theft or welfare-they sure aren't going to a 9-5 bank job and then heading out to the streets for some good old prostitution and a needle jamboree-get a grip!
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- FYI
- - November 19th, 2009 at 23:08:44
Hate to educate you there Ticked Off but sometimes addiction is a learned behavior from mom and dad. Sometimes, the parents give the kid drugs and put them on the street to make some money. Maybe you should open your eyes and realize that addiction is a hell of a lot more complicated than you can grasp. Addiction doesn't just hit those who one day consciously decide that they want to shoot up. Why don't you contact an addictions counsellor in town and ask them what demographics are affected by addiction and why someone would just want to pick up a needle, or snort a line, or smoke a fattie. I bet you'll be quite surprised that it could very well be someone from a low income family whose family has been involved in drug use for generations and that they don't know how to live another life style. It could also very well be your child. It could be someone who just wants attention from parents who are too successful to remember they have children. It could be anyone peer pressured into it, or forced. Not every addict made a consious choice to become an addict. Nobody wakes up one day and just decides they want to be an addict, a lot of the addicts we have today would love to be drug free, but they took a risk, they tried something and they're hooked. I challenge you to call someone and educate yourself.
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- why ???
- - November 19th, 2009 at 20:06:20
As a local P.A. person , I have to say I have noticed the amout of drug use in the city escalate in an alarming rate . I just have a question , do you think maybe it has something to do with having the Penitentary here and having families moving here to be closer to loved ones and then just staying in the city after release ? I think that adds to the undesirable population of the city as a whole . I would like to see something in place where upon release that ex-criminals (time served and therefore forgiven pffffft) are put back in their comunities the lived in before the incarceration and therefore taken out of the city and keeping a balance again .
Any other thoughts from anyone ??????? -
- Prince Albert wants a
- - November 19th, 2009 at 18:38:30
why does CKBI not mention anything about our rally for a safer prince albert. taking place at the river bank, at noon today.
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- Blondie
- - November 19th, 2009 at 04:11:45
Mom from PA, for your information the druggies pay for their own supplies, and it is not only drug users who use the needle exchange program either. And if you were any kind of a person, you would realize that these druggies are human too, EVERYONE in this city is forgeting that. What about the help they need? Does that not matter?
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- Ticked
- - November 19th, 2009 at 01:11:55
Blondie- if these druggies parents or family do not care enough to insist and pressure them into drug rehab, why do you think society should feel sorry for them? As a long time tax payer in this province and the City of P.A, I am not willing to turn the streets over to druggies and criminals. Get them off the streets.
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- FYI
- - November 18th, 2009 at 20:18:06
Mom...
From my understanding, if a diabetic wants free needles too, they are also able to use the Needle Exchange Program, they just need to go there, it's not just for the druggies as you so label them! -
- mom from PA
- - November 18th, 2009 at 15:30:23
Diabetics have to pay for thier own supplies, so should the druggies
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- Crime Fighters
- - November 18th, 2009 at 14:46:53
the Rally was great, and would like to thank Greg Dion and the city embassadors for being there. what really surprised me though our Mayor Jim Scarrows was not there, strang he is our mayor of Prince Albert, and was not there. but anyways 30 of us showed up there, which was good but more should have showed up.... to raise ur concerns for prince albert the issues that was spoke about, was good and as for the police. when you call the police you should not have to answer question about you, it should be the one that is involved. this is why i do not like to call the police about a crime because the police dispatcher ask to many question about your name your address phone number. and by the time you give the info about you the victim could be seriously hurt or even dead... sooo please, Police Dispatcher dont ask questions about the person who is calling get down to the point.
