Before ignoring suspicious activity, consider the following...

What do you know about neighbourhood watch?

Crime prevention is not just the responsibility of the police—it starts with you and your community. A Neighbourhood Watch is a group of committed residents who work together to reduce crime, promote safety, and improve security in their area.

• Do you know how to identify suspicious activity?
• Do you know who to report to if you see something unusual?
• Would you be willing to assist in making your neighbourhood safer?

If you're unsure, read on. If you think you have all the answers, why not test your knowledge?

Why join a neighborhood watch?

• Crime Prevention: Criminals are less likely to target areas with active watch groups.
• Quick Emergency Response: Having a network of alert residents ensures that incidents are reported swiftly.
• Strengthens Community Bonds: Working together fosters trust, cooperation, and a sense of belonging.
• Supports Law Enforcement: Neighbourhood Watch groups assist police by reporting suspicious activities before crimes happen.
• Increases Awareness: Members learn about crime trends and receive security tips from experts.

How to identify suspicious activity

• Unknown individuals loitering near homes or vehicles
• Strangers peering into houses, checking doors or windows
• Unfamiliar vehicles parked in unusual places for extended periods
• Sudden spikes in break-ins, theft, or vandalism in your area
• Individuals posing as service providers but behaving suspiciously

What can you do?

• Be observant: Take note of details such as vehicle registration numbers and suspect descriptions.
• Report suspicious activity immediately: Contact the police or local security groups.
• Don't engage criminals yourself: Leave intervention to the authorities.
• Secure your home: Install good lighting, lock doors, and use security alarms if possible.
• Join a Neighbourhood Watch group: Work with your community to protect each other.

How to report a crime or suspicious activity?

Is it worth the risk to ignore?

Some people think crime won't affect them—until it does. By joining forces with your neighbours, you can help stop crime before it happens. A safe neighbourhood is everyone's responsibility—take action today!

Aims and Objectives

• To nurture a sense of unity, dedication and good neighbourly relations among the resident's indifferent area.
• To serve as a watchdog for the community and the local police services, thereby assisting the local police to safeguard the community against criminal activities and strive for a safe and secure environment.
• To provide a channel through which local communities can play a meaningful role in crime prevention.
• To create public awareness with regard to safety, crime prevention and protection of families and their property.
• To encourage the community to work in close co-operation with NAMPOL and other structures such as local authorities who are involved in law enforcement.
• To unite a diverse residency in creating a stable and crime free Environment.
• To do pro-Active community Policing.

4. Accountability

FW will be accountable to NAMPOL in the first instance and shall also be accountable to the local Community Police Forum and the National Community Affairs Committee.

Each member going on patrol shall inform the patrol unit upon going on duty by full information such as:

• Name,
• Surname,
• Car Model and Registration,
• If Carrying firearm, Model and amount of live Ammunition to be announced, and up on signing off duty shall report back to the group.

In case of using any ammunition, the member shall report and give small statement of the reason for firing shoots.

Please remember discharge of firearms is illegal in municipal area, unless your life and property/ the life of a person is in immediate danger (self-defence), which shall have all correct and valid evidence.

Each member of FW shall ensure that should a serious crime have been observed during his patrol, details thereof are recorded in the OB book of FW which goes monthly to the Station under which the FW falls under for review. This can be done by reporting to the patrol unit group so administration members can record the incident. It is important to remember we are civilians who volunteer to assist the National Police, we shall not TAKE OVER police work.

If NAMPOL or the FW Committee reasonably require a statement to be made regarding the incident referred to in 4.2, the member of FW and the Sector Leader/Regional Coordinator shall comply with such request.

5. Functions

• FW must assist NAMPOL in crime prevention in the area.
• FW will adopt and support the social crime prevention policy of NAMPOL.
• FW must operate within the framework of the law and NAMPOL.
• FW members will have powers similar to that of any other citizen to perform a citizen's arrest and the requirements set out in the Criminal Procedure Act No. 51 of 1977 will be adhered to and complied with at all times.

Please read and understand the ACT.

5.1 Members of FW have the same rights as any member of the public to arrest a perpetrator of an offence or of any person reasonably suspected of being about to commit an offence. They shall with immediate effect hand over the suspect to NAMPOL are not allowed to keep suspect in the FW custody.

5.2 Only minimum force may be used to secure an arrest as defined in Criminal Procedure Act No. 51 of 1977.

6. Identity Cards / General Identification / 2-Way Radio

Active members of FW that have completed the workshop/patrolled with experience members and are reviewed by the FW committee and accepted to be aware of all rules and regulations of the FW, will receive identity cards.

The identity cards of active patrol members must contain a recent photograph of the member and his or her full names, ID number and contact number.

The identity cards shall refer to NAMPOL and be signed by the NAMPOL (process is done through the NCAC, National Community Affairs Committee).

All identity cards shall be validated accordingly.

Vehicles used during patrol shall be clearly marked with reflective FW branding (process is done through the NCAC, National Community Affairs Committee).

All members on patrol must wear uniform which is including:

• T-shirts and caps with the branding of FW and
• reflective vests (process is done through the NCAC, National Community Affairs Committee).

All on and off duty shall be signed in the FW OB book with the same procedure of NAMPOL OB Book.

Active members of FW must carry their identity card with them at all times when on any patrol on behalf of FW.

Any member losing his or her identity card and or Car Magnets shall forthwith report such loss to the FW Committee Members for record keeping.

Any member that resigns from the FW must hand their FW Identity Card and Car Magnets and uniforms back to the FW secretary. (process is done through involving the NCAC, National Community Affairs Committee).

Only active members of FW as defined in the constitution may go on any patrol. Non-members that may accompany a member must sign an indemnity form prior to the start of the patrol.

No person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be a member of FW.

Active members that have purchased their own 2-way radio, must upon resignation from the FW, return the 2-way radio to the FW secretary in order to have the FW frequency removed from the radio. The resigning member will bear the cost of this removal. Alternatively, the resigning member can sell the 2-way radio to the FW.

6.7 Any member of FW misusing the ID card of FW will be facing the same procedure as any police officer misusing Namibian Police Badge and Appointment card.

7. Conduct

• All members of FW must at all times act in a non-violent manner. No member may take the law into his or her own hands irrespective of circumstances.
• No member of FW will display racism, sexism or any other form of discrimination, use foul language towards any other member and any other person.
• Should a member of FW be found guilty of a criminal offence committed when the member is operating formally as a FW member, FW committee will take such disciplinary actions as are considered appropriate by the Committee and will issue a public statement regarding its action.
• NO member of the FW may arrive on patrol under the influence of alcohol or any other/substances/ narcotics. If such behaviour is seen, the member shall be with immediate effect send back and later explained of the procedure, NO member can attend any activities of FW under influence of alcohol or any other substances.
• Members of FW shall not divulge any confidential or privileged information that they may have acquired as a result of their membership of FW.
• No member of FW may exploit his or her membership for personal advantage or benefit.
• Members of FW must at all times act in a manner that will uphold and promote the aims and objectives of FW.

Members of FW are permitted to carry and use high intensity torches up to ten million candlepower.

Pepper spray or CS gas emitters are permitted but may only be used in self-defence when physical damage has been committed or is reasonably expected to be committed.

Each member going on patrol must have at least one cell phone in each car or group of members on foot patrol.

Each cell phone used on patrol shall contain in the memory the cell phone number of the response vehicle cell phone; the NAMPOL telephone number and the cell phone number of at least one of the other patrols on duty during the same roster hours.

Members of FW are not expected or required, however may, confront any persons of any race creed or gender whether they are suspected of being about to commit a crime or having committed a crime. The duty of members on patrol is to report any suspicious person or vehicle in the neighbourhood. Members shall use their own discretion as to whether to drive around their allocated Zone or whether to remain stationary and in the latter instance whether or not to keep the vehicle's engine running. In all time members shall keep reporting on the patrol groups their activities.

The report shall be by cell phone or by two-way radio (if available) to FW support, NAMPOL and or any other FW vehicle on patrol. The precise position of the member or the member's vehicle must be given to all members on patrol to ensure that they are aware of their precise location at all times.

FW members shall follow any instructions from NAMPOL as to whether to follow the suspects or maintain observation.

FW members shall withdraw from any scene or incident forthwith upon any violence being used or threatened and shall not confront the perpetrators any further.

NOTHING herein contained shall restrict the rights of any member as an individual to defend him or herself using reasonable force so to do if faced with a situation where the member or any other person on duty with such member is subjected to actual or reasonably anticipated violence.

Any incident shall forthwith be recorded briefly in writing with detail of time; place; number of suspects or perpetrators; description of perpetrators by age, size and colour and clothing followed by a brief description of the incident.

The detail of the incident must be formally recorded on the form referred to at 4.2 and 4.3 above. If any firearm is discharged by a member of FW such further forms as required by NAMPOL must be completed.

No member of FW shall release any statement to any media on any matters concerning FW unless the content of any statement has been agreed by NAMPOL. No members can give any media release or information without approval with NAMPOL.

FW patrol members must enter any incident during their designated shifts into the POL 551 book. (This book is kept by committee and reports will be filled by administration officers).

FW members when accompanying NAMPOL officers are under the instruction and supervision of the police officer in charge and shall follow instruction as given by officers.

8. Working with NAMPOL

NAMPOL shall be obliged whenever possible to provide members, reservists or assist to arrange for members from other law enforcement agencies to supervise and assist FW when patrols are undertaken.

8.1 FW and NAMPOL must share information on matters pertaining to crime prevention and the apprehension of criminals.

8.3 NAMPOL must assist in the publicity campaign for NAMPOL.

Before turning a blind eye, consider the following...

What do you know about the women and men network?

The Women and Men Network Against Crime is a volunteer-driven initiative where men and women unite to combat crime, gender-based violence, and social injustices in their communities. This initiative empowers ordinary citizens to be the first line of defense against crime and violence.

• Do you believe in standing up against crime?
• Would you be willing to protect the vulnerable in your community?
• Do you know how to help survivors of crime and GBV?

If you're unsure, read on. If you think you have all the answers, why not test your knowledge?

What role does the network play in the community?

• Identifies crime hotspots and reports issues to the police.
• Raises awareness on crime prevention through community meetings and campaigns.
• Encourages men to stand against GBV and promote positive masculinity.
• Provides emotional support and resources for survivors of abuse.
• Acts as the eyes and ears of law enforcement by providing valuable information.

Where can you get help or join the network?

Is it worth the risk to stay silent?

• Every day, people suffer from crime and violence because no one takes action.
• GBV and crime affect families, children, and future generations.
• Communities that take a stand together are stronger, safer, and more resilient.

Before turning a blind eye, consider the following...

What do you know about the women and men network?

The Women and Men Network Against Crime is a volunteer-driven initiative where men and women unite to combat crime, gender-based violence, and social injustices in their communities. This initiative empowers ordinary citizens to be the first line of defense against crime and violence.

• Do you believe in standing up against crime?
• Would you be willing to protect the vulnerable in your community?
• Do you know how to help survivors of crime and GBV?

If you're unsure, read on. If you think you have all the answers, why not test your knowledge?

What role does the network play in the community?

• Identifies crime hotspots and reports issues to the police.
• Raises awareness on crime prevention through community meetings and campaigns.
• Encourages men to stand against GBV and promote positive masculinity.
• Provides emotional support and resources for survivors of abuse.
• Acts as the eyes and ears of law enforcement by providing valuable information.

Where can you get help or join the network?

Is it worth the risk to stay silent?

• Every day, people suffer from crime and violence because no one takes action.
• GBV and crime affect families, children, and future generations.
• Communities that take a stand together are stronger, safer, and more resilient.