NEWS photo Mike Wakefisid

NV RCMP Const. Marty Blais (right) coordinates the detachment's successful Block Watch program
with heip from fellow constables Rino LeClerc (left) and Chris Roy (centre).

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ors to cut crime

BLOCK WATCH is a crime prevention concept that was
born in Seattle and has since grown throughout North

America.

The program is a simple one:
neighbor watching out for
neighbor.

The police cannoi be every-
where at once so they rely on
neighbors to keep an eye on their
neighbor’s house and the rest of
their neighborhood.

The basic concept of Block
Watch is ta reduce crime through
community policing.

In B.C., the Block Watch run
by the North Vancouver RCMP
detachment is the fastest growing
program in the province.

And Const. Marty Blais, the
detachment's Block Watch coor-
dinator, said the focal program
will soon be the biggest in B.C.

It statted in North Vancouver in
1988 and has grown at a rapid
pace since.

“*We started from 2,500 people
to 16,000 people. We are now in
most neighborhoods in North
Vancouver. We're prowing at a
rate of 30 new neighborhoods a
month,” said Blais.

“In July alone, we had 600 new
participants.’*

Blais, who runs the North Van-
couver RCMP’s Block Watch
program along with two other
constables, said the trio teach
local residents how to proteci
themselves and their property.

“Block Watch is neighbors
helping police, helping neighbors.
We ask them to watch their
neighbor’s house. We also train
them on how to watch for
suspicious people and activity.

“We will tetl them where a

OFF

By Sur} Rattan
News Reporter

house was broken into in’ their
neighborhood and what methods
were used,”’ said Blais

The police. he said, will also
Notd Block Watch meetings in
neighberhoods to introduce the
program.

Blais is quick to add that civil-
ians play a big rote in the Block
Watch program.

In North Vaacouver, there ure
seven area coordinators, all volun-
teer civilians, who will go to areas
where police feel a Block Watch
program could be useful.

The ceordinators will taik to the
focal residents and ask if they
would be interested in forming a
Block Watch in their neighbor-
hood.

“Block Watch is the cor-
nerstone of community policing.
Fve been in this section for 18
months, and | love this job. {t's
the best job I've ever had,’ said
Blais. ;

And Blais has good reason to
be proud of the work the police
and civilians have been doing with
the local Block Watch program.

“This is the ultimate program
to reduce crime in North Van-
couver. For B.C., we’re one of
the biggest programs there is.

Anyone interested in learning
more about the North Vancouver
RCMP’s Block Watch program
can call the Block Watch line at
985-0800.

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