How to start your own Neighbourhood Support group

It is not always necessary for members of the community to be approached by Neighbourhood Support or Police to set up a Neighbourhood Support group. Many existing groups started off their life without reference to anyone in Neighbourhood Support or otherwise.

Step 1 Make contact

- Contact your local police station (Howick 5380300), or a local Neighbourhood Support Contact ( email )

Step 2 Find members

Your community constable or your local Neighbourhood Support coordinator will help:
- determine a practical size for your group
- coordinate invites to join the group
- set up the initial group 'get together'
- identify the volunteer contact person and a deputy for the group

Step 3 Start Up meeting

The community constable will attend the first meeting and a Neighbourhood Support coordinator if available:
- explain how a Neighbourhood Support group works
- distribute information packs and street signs
- help gather details for a group contact list
- stay in contact with the group via the contact person

Step 4 Follow up

The group contact person will:
- distribute the contact list to their group members and keep it up to date
- distribute information such as newsletters and crime alerts
- arrange future meetings (if required) including an annual 'get together'

The contact person is referred to as a Street Coordinator or Street Contact. This role is crucial in keeping information up to date and in feeding information back to the community.

Resources and other supporting mechanisms can be accessed by contacting any of the above persons.

Signs, stickers, leaflets and folders are provided by Neighbourhood Support New Zealand as part of your start-up and ongoing maintenance of your group.