May 2021 Bulletin

On 21 & 22 May 2021 the NHWA International conference was held at Sea World on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Five members from Tasmania joined with their NHW counterparts from every other state and territory in Australia to share initiatives and be inspired by the commitment and enthusiasm of like-minded people from far and wide. As you can see, it was all work and no play!

It was significant that the Prime Minister wrote a letter of welcome and support; Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews gave a personal address; and the conference was formally opened by the Mayor Tom Tate from the City of the Gold Coast. Clearly, we are a brand that is well known, valued, and supported by our political leaders and this is but another reason to have pride in who we are.

Although impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 risks, members who could not be there in person joined in from online connections and hubs which proved the value of modern technology for real time engagement. This was a fabulous event with lots of excellent presenters providing news and evidence that supported the importance and value of Neighbourhood Watch across the globe!

Each Monthly Bulletin will provide a summary of one of the conference presentations so that we can all benefit from the ideas, evidence, and initiatives that those present had the opportunity to hear first-hand. Suffice to say that the conference was such a success that a conversation has already started about how other conference arrangements might be a future feature.

Neighbourhood Watch Really Does Make a Difference

The keynote speaker at the conference was Professor Lorraine Mazerolle. Lorraine is a highly qualified and well-respected academic researcher and criminologist. The subject of her presentation was Does Neighbourhood Watch Work? Of course, the answer is yes – but Lorraine qualifies this affirmation with well-researched and accepted evidence, drawn from contemporary first-hand investigations and supported by extensive international evaluations that have been published across recent decades.

The most significant fact presented from the research was that the existence of Neighbourhood Watch in an area can influence the reduction of crime from between 16% to 26%. This is outstanding data and all Neighbourhood Watch members are encouraged to remember these figures for when you are challenged about the worth of NHW or better still, when you are lobbying a politician, potential sponsor or applying for a grant to help with some local activity.

A second aspect of Lorraine’s presentation, that was reinforced by many other speakers throughout the conference, was the value of the social contact, the engagement and the inter-personal connections that come from being involved with NHW – and/or being a beneficiary of a NHW event or project.

A motto used by NHW Tasmania is Good Neighbours Create Safer Communities and it was heartening to hear from so many experts that it’s true! Events like Cuppa with a Cop do have a number of benefits, over and above getting a free cup of coffee! Ostensibly they enable community engagement with the police in a social setting – but they also facilitate other social connections and indirectly help to reduce anxiety, fears and feelings of isolation and loneliness. So never underestimate the value of a simple Cuppa.