Displaying items by tag: Neighbourhood Watch
How do we explain the concept of Neighbourhood Watch to a child without generating anxiety? How can we transform "surveillance" into "care"?
These have been the most challenging questions for our community. Today, EUNWA is proud to present an innovative educational answer: The "Super Neighbours' Academy".
This project creates a bridge between the present and the future of our practice. It moves away from the traditional idea of "watching out for danger" and embraces a new, age-appropriate philosophy for children: The Kind Custodian.
A Shift in Perspective: From Threat to Care
At the heart of this workshop is a pedagogical shift. Instead of teaching children to look for "bad things" (a threat filter), we train them to use their "Curious Eyes" and "Kind Hearts" to notice what needs help or attention in their environment (a care filter).
Through the metaphor of Meerkats and engaging games like the "Perception Traffic Light", children learn the foundations of situational awareness. Most importantly, they learn the Golden Rule of safety: a child never intervenes directly but "activates the team" by sharing their observation with a trusted adult .
The Complete Educational Package
We are making this entire educational resource available to our members, teachers, and community leaders. The "Super Neighbours" package is a ready-to-use toolkit designed to run a safe, fun, and impactful 90-minute workshop.
What is included in the download:
- The tutor's operating manual: A comprehensive "flight manual" with a detailed script, ensuring every session is psychologically safe and pedagogically effective.
- The visual presentation: A colourful, engaging slide deck to guide the children through their missions.
- The "Kind Custodian" certificate: A certificate for children to colour and personalise, turning the experience into a lasting memory of pride.
- An online form for tutor feedback: A link to help us improve the project with your insights .
Start Cultivating Today
This project is more than just a lesson; it is an investment in the civic sense of our future citizens. It turns observation into an act of public pride.
We invite all Neighbourhood Watch organisations and teachers to download the materials and open the first "Super Neighbours' Academy" in their community.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PACKAGE
- Manual (including the link to the tutor's online feedback form)
Note: If you require these materials in another European language, please contact us directly (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to enquire about availability.
In an era marked by growing distrust of institutions and a widespread sense of insecurity, Neighbourhood Watch schemes have become an increasingly common feature in many European cities. Born with the goal of increasing safety through active citizen participation, these groups often find themselves at a crucial crossroads. They can evolve into powerful tools of social cohesion or, conversely, unintentionally become catalysts for populist drifts, fuelling division and fear.
Understanding this dynamic is essential for anyone who cares about both security and the health of the democratic fabric.
A Fertile Ground for Populism
The correlation between populism and Neighbourhood Watch is no coincidence; the former can create the ideal conditions for the latter to emerge. Populism, especially in its right-wing form, thrives on a precise narrative: that of honest, hardworking "people" betrayed by corrupt, distant "elites" who are incapable of protecting them from threats like crime and decay. In this view, the state is portrayed as inefficient, weak, or even complicit.
This rhetoric undermines trust in traditional institutions, such as the police and the judiciary, which are often depicted as being too "soft" or lacking resources. It is in this void of trust that the populist call for direct action takes hold. Feeling abandoned, citizens are urged to "take back control" of their own security. A Neighbourhood Watch scheme can thus become the most concrete manifestation of this impulse: an act of self-organisation that bypasses institutions and asserts the sovereignty of the local community.
Furthermore, the populist tendency to identify a scapegoat—the immigrant, the minority, the "other"—provides these groups with a tangible enemy. The fear of an external threat acts as a unifying force, pushing residents to unite not just for something (security) but also against someone.
The Boomerang Effect
While populism fosters the birth of these groups, it is equally true that the groups themselves can become a powerful vehicle for populist ideas to take root. This "boomerang effect" manifests in several ways:
- The very existence of the group and its actions (a report, a presumed thwarted burglary) become living proof of the state's failure. The neighbourhood chat group turns into a sounding board where anxiety is amplified and the narrative of institutional inefficiency finds continuous confirmation.
- Within the group, a strong sense of belonging based on exclusion is strengthened. The "us" are the respectable residents defending the territory; the "them" is anyone perceived as an external threat. This shifts the focus from crime vigilance to social surveillance, where even non-illegal but simply "different" behaviours can become an object of suspicion. This mechanism generates an exclusive "bonding social capital" that strengthens internal ties but builds walls against outsiders.
- Neighbourhood Watch groups can easily become a political incubator, a training ground for local leaders who, gaining visibility and consensus on security issues, find an ideal platform for a future political career, often aligned with populist parties.
- The issue of security ceases to be a complex social problem and becomes a simple moral battle between "good" and "evil." This fuels the demand for simplistic and punitive solutions, a cornerstone of populist rhetoric.
Towards an Inclusive and Democratic Model
Is it inevitable then that a Neighbourhood Watch scheme will slide towards populism? Absolutely not. It is possible to design and manage these groups in a way that makes them a bulwark against polarisation and a driver of genuine cohesion. The key is a paradigm shift: moving from a fortress mentality to a town square mentality, from defence to inclusion. This requires the adoption of some fundamental principles.
- Partner with institutions. The group should not be born as an antagonist to institutions but as their partner. Formal agreements with local, regional, or national authorities are crucial for defining roles and boundaries. The regular presence of a police liaison officer at meetings and adequate training on the legal limits of citizens' actions can transform distrust into collaboration and prevent vigilante behaviour.
- Embrace inclusion. A healthy group must reflect the neighbourhood's actual composition. A proactive effort is needed to include residents of every nationality, culture, and social background. Multilingual communication, the involvement of migrant associations, and horizontal, rotating leadership are effective antidotes against the creation of an exclusive "us."
- Focus on community. The group's energy should be channelled not just towards surveillance but especially towards improving the quality of life. "Situational" prevention—like advocating for better lighting or the redevelopment of a park—increases real and perceived safety without fuelling a climate of suspicion. Initiatives such as neighbourhood parties, collective clean-ups of green spaces, or the creation of urban gardens build the kind of "bridging social capital" that unites people rather than dividing them.
- Communicate responsibly. Populism feeds on moral panic. To counter this, internal communication within the group must be rigorous. It is crucial to rely on official crime data provided by authorities rather than anecdotes and hearsay. A strict rule should be established against the spread of unverified news, and language should be adopted that talks about problematic "behaviours," not categories of "people."
A Choice to Make
Neighbourhood Watch is not inherently "good" or "bad." It is a tool, and like any tool, its impact depends on how it is used. If left at the mercy of fear and distrust, it can easily become a weapon in the hands of populist propaganda, eroding social cohesion and undermining the principles of the rule of law.
If, however, it is built on solid foundations of collaboration, inclusivity, and active community care, it can transform into an extraordinary exercise in active citizenship. A healthy Neighbourhood Watch doesn't build higher walls; it builds longer tables. It is not measured by the number of "enemies" it identifies, but by the number of neighbours it brings together. Ultimately, the choice between being a fortress and an open town square rests with the community itself.
As the European Neighbourhood Watch Association (EUNWA), we are pleased to present our new report: "Searching for Missing Persons in Europe: A Guide to National Systems and Cooperation Models." We have designed this document as a practical guide for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and third-sector organisations, offering a clear and detailed comparison of the different alert and search systems currently active across the continent.
In the report, we map the considerable diversity of national approaches, from strongly state-led systems to models that rely heavily on the professionalism of volunteers. This guide provides professionals with a valuable tool to understand this complex landscape and identify effective practices.
The Crucial Role of Citizen Participation
A central finding of our research is the confirmation of the crucial role that citizens already play in supporting search operations. In the guide, we analyse several successful models of collaboration already active in Europe, demonstrating that public engagement is a key factor for success. These models range from community apps for vulnerable groups to highly professionalised volunteer search teams and digital mobilisation platforms that use social media to spread alerts.
Our Hypothesis for the Future: Extending the Search Network with Neighbourhood Watch
Building on this analysis of successful citizen participation, in our report we explore a working hypothesis for the future. We suggest that the formal involvement of established Neighbourhood Watch networks as official channels for disseminating alerts could significantly extend the reach and effectiveness of the search network.
The model we propose would leverage these trusted, geographically-focused community structures to act as trained "eyes and ears," complementing the work of law enforcement and specialised teams. We therefore conclude the report by inviting stakeholders to consider this framework as a basis for pilot projects, aimed at testing and adapting this promising approach to different national contexts.
This report is a tool we have designed for professionals working in the field of public safety and community engagement. It provides a comprehensive overview and a forward-looking perspective on how to build more resilient and collaborative communities.
The full report is available for free download.
Click here to download the guide: "Searching for Missing Persons in Europe"
In a contemporary Europe marked by profound transformations, the emergence and proliferation of "patriotic patrols" and vigilante movements present a phenomenon deserving of the highest attention. To provide a thorough understanding of this challenge, the European Neighbourhood Watch Association (EUNWA) has today released its comprehensive new research paper, "Vigilantism, Nationalism and the Rule of Law in Contemporary Europe". The study moves beyond surface-level observations to offer a multi-dimensional analysis of the contextual drivers, participant demographics, operational structures, and tangible impacts of these group.The research argues that while these groups often manifest in localized actions, they are embedded within broader socio-political contexts that challenge the very foundations of liberal democracy. They represent a pressing challenge not only to social cohesion but also to the rule of law itself. Their activities can erode the state's monopoly on the legitimate use of force, incite hatred against minorities, deepen social polarization, and delegitimize democratic institution.
The report identifies a complex interplay of factors fuelling the rise of these movements. It points to deep-seated socio-economic anxieties and resentments stemming from periods of economic crisis and growing inequality. These insecurities are often compounded by heightened public concerns regarding security and migration, particularly following the 2015-2016 influx and high-profile terrorist attacks, which created fertile ground for narratives linking immigration to threat. This environment is further shaped by a palpable crisis of trust in traditional institutions, including governments, mainstream media, and even the European Union, which allows "anti-system" narratives to flourish. These groups leverage these anxieties, framing them within potent ideologies of nationalism, nativism, and right-wing populism to champion a return to perceived "native" values and defend against so-called external and internal threats.
EUNWA's research dismantles simplistic stereotypes of the participants, revealing a diverse landscape of individuals drawn to these movements. Far from a monolithic bloc, the participants range from digitally-savvy youth activists, such as those in France's "Génération Identitaire," to middle-aged blue-collar workers in deindustrialized areas—so-called "geographies of frustration"—who might join patrols like Finland's "Soldiers of Odin". The study also identifies a strain of "senior patriotism" among older adherents closer to traditional politics, as seen with supporters of "Britain First" in the UK. The unifying element, the paper suggests, is often not a rigid ideology but a shared "fear of decline".
Delving into their operations, the report emphasizes that tracking financial flows is critical to understanding a movement's maturity and resilience. The ability to manage resources and raise funds marks the transition from fleeting online anger to an enduring organizational presence. Furthermore, financial trails often uncover international networks and support systems that are not apparent from street-level actions alone.
While precisely attributing violent incidents solely to these informal groups is challenging, the research points to a clear correlation between their presence and a rise in hate crimes and public disorder. An analysis of hate crime data shows that countries with a documented history of structured patrol groups, such as Germany with its Bürgerwehren linked to PEGIDA, tend to report higher incidences of physical assaults within their hate crime statistics.
Faced with this phenomenon, institutional responses across Europe have been varied, creating a "regulatory patchwork". Some states, like France and Greece, have adopted repressive approaches, formally dissolving groups like "Génération Identitaire" and "Golden Dawn". Others, such as Germany and Finland, have favoured discreet surveillance and the application of specific laws against paramilitary activities and hate speech. In contrast, countries like Poland and Hungary have shown forms of indirect tolerance or even support where the groups' narratives aligned with government agendas.
However, the EUNWA report concludes by arguing that suppression alone is unlikely to succeed if the underlying anxieties are not addressed through legitimate, democratic means. The proposed alternative to illegal vigilantism is to strengthen the democratic state's capacity to provide security through structured "Participatory Vigilance," or Neighbourhood Watch schemes. Unlike illegal patrols, these programs operate under strict rules and in close partnership with law enforcement. Their role is based on passive observation and qualified reporting through official channels, with an absolute prohibition on carrying out patrols, searches, or using weapons.
The report outlines five pillars for a safe and effective European model: a clear legal framework defining what volunteers can and cannot do; mandatory accreditation and training; the use of official, secure technology for reporting; inclusive governance that reflects community diversity; and independent monitoring to ensure accountability.
"The answer to the shadow of vigilantism is not more closure, but more democracy, more justice, and more cohesion," the report concludes. By channelling citizens' legitimate desire for security into a regulated and constructive framework, it is possible to strengthen the social fabric and reaffirm the core values upon which democratic Europe is based.
The EUNWA Board – July 2025
The European Neighbourhood Watch Association (EUNWA) is excited to announce a transformative new initiative: EUNWA Academy. This innovative e-learning platform marks a significant shift in our approach, one that puts education and training at the very heart of our mission to make communities across Europe safer, more aware, and better prepared for the challenges of our time.
For years, EUNWA has taken pride in hosting annual European meetings. These events were a valuable opportunity to connect stakeholders, share knowledge, and foster collaboration. Yet, as impactful as these gatherings were, they came at a high cost, both in terms of financial resources and human effort. In an increasingly digital world, where needs are evolving and challenges growing more complex, we felt it was time to adapt.
When considering the geopolitical instability and war that are currently unfolding in Europe and beyond, it becomes evident that awareness and preparedness are of paramount importance. The world around us has changed. Communities today face an unprecedented mix of challenges: rising insecurity, growing social tensions, and the widespread effects of climate change. At the same time, digital threats have become as real and pressing as physical dangers.
The decision to replace in-person annual meetings with the EUNWA Academy reflects our commitment to finding smarter, more sustainable ways to serve our communities. This new e-learning platform is designed to be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Whether you are a community leader, a practitioner, or an individual committed to safety, EUNWA Academy will provide you with tools, knowledge, and insights to recognize risks,prepare for threats, and protect those around you.
At the heart of this change is a desire to reach more people, more effectively. Instead of limiting knowledge to a few days of in-person discussions, we want to provide an ongoing opportunity to learn and grow. The Academy will feature carefully designed courses, developed in collaboration with leading experts and practitioners, on topics that truly matter: crime prevention strategies, community engagement, risk awareness, digital tools, and best practices drawn from real experiences across Europe.
But EUNWA Academy is not just about learning; it is about empowerment. By sharing the right tools and knowledge, we can help individuals and organizations respond to the uncertainties of our time. Whether we are facing cyber-attacks, rising local crime, or the ever-present spectre of organized violence, preparedness is our greatest defence. The Academy will serve as a resource for building resilience and fostering cooperation, ensuring that communities are equipped not only to prevent threats but also to overcome them together.
This shift in strategy reflects the values we have always held dear: collaboration, security, and adaptability. At a time when Europe is at a crossroads, when the challenges we face seem to multiply, we believe that education is the key to a safer, stronger future. The Academy represents a commitment to building proactive, empowered communities that can stand resilient in the face of uncertainty.
We invite all our members, partners, and stakeholders to join us on this new journey. Together, we can transform the way communities learn, act, and cooperate for their safety. We are excited about what lies ahead and confident that EUNWA Academy will mark the beginning of a new era of collaboration and resilience.
Stay tuned for the official launch of EUNWA Academy – a place where knowledge becomes action, where training fosters transformation, and where security begins with awareness.
EUNWA remains dedicated to supporting neighbourhood watch initiatives and fostering collaboration across Europe. By sharing knowledge and building awareness, we can ensure that safety, resilience, and preparedness become the foundation of our communities. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey.
EUNWA Board
The bystander effect, also known as the apathetic bystander effect or diffusion of responsibility, is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people are less likely to help or intervene in an emergency situation when surrounded by other individuals. In other words, the larger the number of people present, the less likely it is that any one of them will feel responsible to act.
This phenomenon was first observed and studied in the 1960s following the Kitty Genovese incident, when a young woman was attacked and killed in New York City while many people nearby listened to her cries for help without intervening. This tragic case led psychologists to examine human behaviour in emergency situations and led to the formulation of the bystander effect.
The main causes of the bystander effect include:
- Diffusion of responsibility: When many people are present, everyone tends to assume that someone else will take care of the situation. This can lead to inaction, as no one feels directly responsible for helping the victim.
- Social conformity: People often look to other people to figure out how to behave in a given situation. If the others seem calm or indifferent, the observer is more likely to behave in the same way.
- Fear of judgement: People may avoid intervening for fear of negative judgement from other people present. For example, they may worry about looking stupid or putting themselves in a dangerous situation.
To challenge the bystander effect and promote help in emergency situations, it is important to raise awareness and teach people how to react. Some suggestions include:
- Awareness-raising: Awareness of the bystander effect is the first step to overcome it. People should be informed about this phenomenon and the risks involved.
- Intervention training: People can be trained to react in emergency situations through first aid courses and specific training.
- Individual empowerment: It is important to encourage people to feel responsible and to act if they feel someone is in danger. This can be promoted through awareness-raising campaigns.
- Effective communication: In emergency situations, people can be encouraged to clearly communicate their intentions and assign specific tasks to the people present.
The bystander effect is a complex phenomenon that can have serious consequences in emergency situations. However, with awareness and education, it can be overcome and a more responsible and supportive behaviour on the part of people can be encouraged.
Neighbourhood Watch is a community approach to urban security that can make a significant contribution to overcoming the bystander effect. It involves the residents of a given area in monitoring and developing security in their community. Here is how Neighbourhood Watch can help counter the bystander effect:
- Creating a support network: Neighbourhood Watch promotes social cohesion and connection between neighbours. When people know and trust each other, they are more likely to respond when an emergency or dangerous situation arises. This sense of community can break the bystander effect, as people are more likely to feel responsible for their neighbours.
- Active communication: Neighbourhood Watch organisations often promote active communication between residents. This may include the use of chat groups, messaging apps or regular meetings to discuss issues of safety and well-being in the community. When people communicate regularly and share information, they are more likely to report emergency situations and help each other.
- Shared vigilance: Neighbourhood Watch encourages residents to be vigilant about suspicious or unusual activities in their area. This does not mean that people have to be vigilant 24 hours a day, but rather that they can report unusual behaviour to the relevant authorities. This helps create an environment of shared security where people feel responsible for the wellbeing of the community.
- Training and awareness-raising: Neighbourhood Watch organisations can provide security training and information to residents. This helps them recognise emergency situations and act appropriately, overcoming the bystander effect through empowerment and self-efficacy.
- Partnership with Law Enforcement Agencies: Neighbourhood Watch very often cooperates with local Law Enforcement Agencies to report and resolve security problems. This cooperation can improve the efficiency of emergency responses and strengthen trust between the community and Law Enforcement Agencies.
Neighbourhood Watch promotes an environment where people feel more responsible for each other and for the security of their community. This helps overcome the bystander effect, as people are more likely to intervene and help when they see an emergency or dangerous situation.
Francesco Caccetta - ANCDV Board
Short-term rentals, especially in the B&B industry, are having a significant impact on the rental market in many European cities.
The phenomenon initially affected historical centres and the most commercially attractive areas of capital and tourist cities, and then spread to secondary locations and less commercially attractive neighbourhoods, especially those with good public transport connections.
The spread of short-term rentals practice has generated as a first consequence a scarcity of available accommodation for those in need of stable housing solutions, generating difficulties for off-campus students and families looking for medium to long-term solutions.
In addition to other considerations on the cities rental market, the rapid turnover of guests in short-rented properties can have safety and security implications for both tenants and other residents.
The first significant effect of the high turnover of guests, is increased anonymity between neighbours. Consequently, there is greater difficulty in building the network of informal neighbourly relations that almost always characterises community life, limiting the spontaneous surveillance of private and shared spaces.
Temporary residents tend to adopt defensive attitudes towards themselves and their belongings rather than taking on the role of monitoring the surrounding environment, which is more typical of long-term residents.
The temporary resident, in most cases, is unable to read the signals, sometimes weak, that the unfamiliar environment transmits, reducing the level of spontaneous control of public and shared spaces, making them more vulnerable to degradation and petty crime.
The increased flow of people within apartment buildings, thanks to short-term rentals facilitated by online booking platforms, can raise the risk of intrusions, thefts, acts of vandalism, damage to common property, harassment, and assaults. This can be attributed to the temporary guests' lesser familiarity with the environment (who are often less present during the day in the rented accommodations) and the potential presence of valuable items within the rented apartments (currency, cameras, computers, and more). The commission of these crimes can alarm other residents, deteriorate relationships, and reduce the overall quality of life within the community.
A second critical element is the breaking, even unintentionally, of shared codes of behaviour by temporary residents. The latter tend to behave as if they were in a hotel, ignoring the rules of the building community and causing discomfort and conflict among neighbours.
Temporary guests are often not aware of the in-depth norms of the apartment building and may behave inappropriately or neglect safety regulations. For example, they may not be aware of the rules on waste separation or may not be willing to respect them; they may not respect silence during the night hours; they may leave the entrance doors of the building open, making it difficult for residents to monitor access; they may misuse common spaces (parking, swimming pools, gyms, etc.). Furthermore, they may not have the same degree of care for properties as long-term residents, thus increasing the risk of damage, inconvenience or accidents.
Last, but not least, short-term rental properties can be used for illegal activities if not properly controlled and regulated. Consequently, many buildings have adopted specific rules to protect the safety and tranquillity of residents while still providing some flexibility to tenants. In other cases, it has been decided to completely ban short-term rentals, a fact that is a source of frequent disputes due to regulatory uncertainties related to the novelty of the phenomenon, mostly not provided for in building regulations.
Nevertheless, despite the potential problems, it is important to emphasise that short rentals can also improve building security. Landlords who rent out their homes can be motivated to ensure the safety of their guests by installing additional security systems and monitoring their behaviour. Many landlords are safety-conscious and respect the rules of the building to offer their guests a quiet and safe stay. Owners can also be motivated to maintain building security to avoid property damage and receive positive online ratings.
Hence the call for appropriate training for landlords, and tenants, aimed at understanding how correct and conscious behaviour can significantly improve the relationship between permanent and temporary guests, in everyone's interest.
Very interesting is the approach of the UK's Neighbourhood Watch with respect to the safety issue related to the practice of short-term rentals.
In July 2021, the UK Neighbourhood Watch and Airbnb signed a partnership, as part of the UK Trust and Safety Alliance, whereby Airbnb pledges to open its doors to communities by helping temporary guests to 'live like a resident', encouraging them to stay responsibly and respectfully in the communities where they are hosted. To this end, the parties have co-published a series of mini guides.
One of these, made available to guests, has the significant title of 'How to be a good neighbour during your trip’. The guide contains brief tips on how to keep the home safe, how to park safely without disturbing residents, and how to follow house rules.
Another mini guide, entitled 'How to be a good neighbour', encourages homeowners of rented houses to create a network with their neighbours, asking them to report any problems that may arise with temporary guests and to check on the house when it is not occupied, applying the rule of good neighbourliness. The guide also suggests sharing the house and neighbourhood rules with guests to ensure their safe stay.
We are aware that agreements like the one between the UK Neighbourhood Watch and Airbnb do not solve the problem of the shortage of medium to long-term rental accommodations, due to the proliferation of short-term rentals (which are generally more lucrative for property owners). However, the agreement appears to be a good example of how community respect and safety can be reconciled with the practice of short-term renting.
We think it is a "good practice" that should certainly be followed by Neighbourhood Watch organizations in other European countries.
Umberto Nicolini - EUNWA Advisory Board
Leonardo Campanale - EUNWA President
E.U.N.W.A. Spirit
An informal atmosphere and a great desire to meet again in person. An opportunity to exchange experiences and network. A common interest in learning more about the realities of Neighbourhood Watch in the different European countries. This is the climate and spirit that characterised the sixth annual meeting of EUNWA.
After two years of virtual meetings, we finally met 'in person' in Venice on October 7th. As in previous years, the meeting was attended by representatives of Neighbourhood Watch associations from several European countries, public administrators, subject-matter experts, representatives of Law Enforcement Agencies, representatives of civil society, and academics.
A different format for our annual meeting
As you may have noticed from the title of the event, 'Awarding excellence: the French case', this year we focused specifically on the French experience of Voisins Vigilantes and Solidaires. This new format of our annual meeting responds to the need for a deeper knowledge of the various national realities of Neighbourhood Watch. Indeed, this format gives the awarding country the opportunity to present its activities in depth and share its national experience with others.
Over the past year, we have been working hard to reconnect with European Neighbourhood Watch associations and re-launch our network. We took advantage of the pandemic to completely rebuild our website, browsing in all European languages, and launched a multilingual online questionnaire to survey the situation of Neighbourhood Watch in Europe.
EUNWA's last publication on the state-of-the-art of Neighbourhood Watch in Europe “White Book”, dates back to 2015. Since then, many things have changed and are still changing in front of our eyes. We, therefore, are planning to publish a new edition of the book in 2023.
This year's EUNWA annual meeting included the Mythos Award event to honour European citizens who have most distinguished themselves in promoting Neighbourhood Watch in their community. This is an event that we would like to repeat annually for each individual country or group of countries.
Where we have met
This year our annual meeting was held at Palazzo Corner della Ca' Granda or simply Ca' Corner. It is an imposing Renaissance palace in Venice, located in the district of San Marco and overlooking the Grand Canal. It is the seat of the Metropolitan City of Venice and the Prefecture.
Ca' Corner was designed by the architect Jacopo Sansovino after afire destroyed the Corner family's previous residence, Palazzo Malombra, in 1532. In 1817 the palace was ceded by Andrea Corner to the Austrian Empire, which placed there the Imperial Royal Provincial Delegation and later also the Imperial Royal Lieutenancy, corresponding to the Prefecture. Later, when Venice was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy, it retained the same destination, which still exists today.
Situated in a prestigious location not far from Piazza San Marco, the palace is characterised by its monumentality, already highlighted by its appellation Ca' Granda (Big House), which breaks the sequence of neighbouring palaces with its prominence.
Participants
The event was attended by a large delegation from the French association Voisins Vigilantes et Solidaires, delegations from the Austrian, Danish, Estonian, Moldavian, and Italian Neighbourhood Watch associations, and one from Associazione Nazionale Controllo di Vicinato, representing the various associations and partners that are members of the Italian national network. Also present were municipal administrators, representatives of Law Enforcement Agencies, representatives of social organisations and of the academic world.
Delegates from various European countries would have certainly been more numerous but, unfortunately, due to some organisational and logistical problems caused by the new format of the event, our communication was delayed. This prevented many of our partners from attending the event due to the short notice. We apologise and promise to be much more efficient in organising the next event.
Speakers
The meeting was opened by the Councillor of the Metropolitan City of Venice, Enrico Gavagnin, who welcomed the participants
and brought greetings from the city authorities.
Then the honorary president of EUNWA, Karl Brunnbauer, spoke, updating those present on the latest EUNWA news, such as the relocation of the headquarters from Vienna to Venice, the new EUNWA website (browsable in all European languages), the novelty of the Mythos Award, the still in progress work to strengthen relations with all our partners, and last but not least, the survey on the situation of the various Neighbourhood Watch experiences in Europe through the distribution of an accurate on-line questionnaire. President Leonardo Campanale spoke next, focusing on the pros and cons of virtual versus real communities and the importance of neighbourhood micro-communities as a basis for the development and growth of strong, free, and cohesive communities. Vice-President Roberta Bravi concluded the speeches, focusing on the importance of cooperation at European level and the importance of public policies on security.
Awarding Excellence: The France case
The Mythos award, conceived by Councillor Enrico Gavagnin and organised by his staff, is an 
important opportunity to reward European citizens who have distinguished themselves in their communities in promoting and organising the practice of Neighbourhood Watch, and it’s an opportunity for organisations from a specific country to share with other European associations their story, progress, challenges, and the tools they use to promote the project.
The EUNWA Board decided to begin with France, which has seen incredible growth in a relatively short time (one million adherents, second only to Neighbourhood Watch UK which has three and a half million) and has developed a robust web platform to develop the Voisins Vigilantes et Solidaires network that EUNWA is currently studying as a best practice.
In addition to Thierry Chicha, president of VVS, French citizens Jack Cabral and Anthony Delbecq were awarded the Mythos Prize for their commitment to the development of Neighbourhood Watch in France.
The Voisins Vigilantes et Solidaires web platform
The event continued with an explanation, by President Thierry Chicha, of the evolution of the VVS system over the last twenty years and the presentation of its web platform, designed to facilitate real encounters between citizens who join it. The web platform has different interfaces for citizens, municipal administrations, and the French State Police, to facilitate dialogue between citizens and institutions. The platform attracted a lot of interest, and many questions were asked about how it works.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Metropolitan City of Venice for its hospitality and generous contribution, the Mythos hotel group for sponsoring the event and naming the award, the Municipality of Venice, City Councillor Enrico Gavagnin for conceiving the event and coordinating the support team, the support team itself: Camilla, Sophia, Rui, Maria Cristina, and Fausto, and the guests from Italy and other countries.
Where shall we meet next year?
EUNWA has organised its six annual meetings (2014, 2016 in Austria, 2015, 2019 and 2022 in Italy, 2018 in Greece) mainly in Central and Southern Europe. We are a European network and therefore think it is appropriate to organise the next events in Northern Europe. Applications are now open!
The day after
The following day, October 8th, the EUNWA board participated in the national conference of the “Associazione Nazionale
Controllo di Vicinato”, (the Italian network of Neighbourhood Watch), where public administrators, Law Enforcement Agencies and representatives of Italian associations discussed the topic 'Participatory Security and Horizontal Subsidiarity'.
Photo Gallery
Download speeches and presentation (EN/FR/IT)
Karl Brunnbauer (Honorary President) EN FR IT
Leonardo Campanale (President) EN FR IT
Roberta Bravi (Vice-President) EN FR IT
Thierry Chicha (VVS President) EN FR IT
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After two years of virtual meetings, we are happy to inform you that the EUNWA annual event is finally back “in person” and we would like to warmly invite you to join it!
This year the event will take place in Venice, Italy, on October 7th, and we hope it will gather, as the previous years, a wide range of participants: representatives of Neighbourhood Watch associations, scientists, practitioners, subject matter experts, representatives of law enforcement agencies, civil society representatives, academics.
EUNWA has the ambition to become a centre for the study and documentation of participatory security in Europe, and this requires in-depth knowledge of each national reality. Therefore, its Board has decided, as of this year, to change the format of its annual meetings. Based on the experience of our past meetings, we have found it more profitable to focus on one country at a time, in order to better understand it. This year the French Neighbourhood Watch (Voisins Vigilants et Solidaires - VVS) will be the main focus.
Two French citizens who are members of the Voisins Vigilants et Solidaires network and its President, Thierry Chicha, will be honoured with the “Mythos Award”, a prize created in collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Venice and the Mythos hotel chain, which aims to reward citizens who have particularly distinguished themselves for their commitment to promoting “participatory security” in their communities.
The award ceremony will be held in the prestigious venue of the Metropolitan City of Venice, PALAZZO CA' CORNER, Nassivera Hall, San Marco 2662, 30124 Venezia – Italy.
The event will be attended by local civil authorities and representatives of Italian and European Neighbourhood Watch associations.
During the event, our French friends will illustrate the development strategy of their network that has led them to reach one million members in just a few years. They will also present the VVS web platform, whose development and dissemination have been crucial to their growth.
We count on your active participation in order to make this event successful!
Registration to the event is required. Registration link here: https://forms.gle/riEkQegJaTj8aJrE7
Looking forward to seeing you in Venice!
the EUNWA Board
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The Neighbourhood Watch programme has its roots in the criminological 'Situational Prevention' and 'Theory of Routine Activity’. The scope of intervention of Neighbourhood Watch is very specific, and never overlaps with the functions performed by the police: the repression of offenders remains an exclusive domain of the law enforcement agencies.
However, participating in community security requires not only a significant cultural change on the part of the institutions and the police, but also a cultural change in civil society.
It is not enough for citizens to trust the police and for the police to trust citizens, but it is also necessary for citizens to trust each other. It is fundamental to realise that security is an issue for the whole community, and that there is a strong interdependence between your own security (real and perceived) and your neighbour’s.
How the Neighbourhood Watch works
Residents can interpret and understand the private space and context in which they live (be it people or situations) better than the police, which makes them capable of identifying risks and criticalities in private contexts that the police do not routinely monitor and in which most predatory crimes occur. With Neighbourhood Watch, this interpretative ability is made available to the police for a better chance to intervene in the prevention and repression of petty crime. The knowledge and ability to interpret the context characterised by micro-community places represent an added value for citizens in participatory processes, both related to security and to many other aspects of community life.
Another important aspect is that residents are the only ones who can implement specific passive prevention actions in their private spaces for specific vulnerabilities (e.g., install high quality locks, install alarm systems, change of habits and behaviour, etc.).
Different approaches
The emergence and development of the Neighbourhood Watch in Europe has followed different paths depending on the history, political situation, and regulatory framework of each country. However, they all have in common two possible approaches to launch the programme: top-down or bottom-up approach.
Top-down approach means promoting the Programme through the institutions. This approach assumes an initial relationship of trust between citizens and police and can last as long as this trust relationship remains high. If the trust relationship breaks down, there is a high probability that citizens will stop cooperating with the police. This approach is difficult to apply where there is a historical distrust between citizens, institutions, and the police.
In Bottom-up approach citizens self-organise into Neighbourhood Watch groups. In many European countries, Neighbourhood Watch was established directly by citizens, and only later supported by the institutions and police (e.g., in France or Italy). In areas where Neighbourhood Watch started from the bottom-up, there was a good level of social cohesion and sense of community, and a good response from the mayors and local police. On the other hand, Neighbourhood Watch hardly started in areas where individualism is highly developed and social solidarity is lacking.
However, there are still some countries in Europe where the Neighbourhood Watch is barely tolerated by the authorities due to historical and cultural factors. These factors can be summarised in an atavistic distrust of citizens towards institutions, or a suspicion towards citizens' participation in the security of their communities, seen as interference in the institutional activities of law enforcement agencies.
Positive side effects
Based on Neighbourhood Watch experiences in both Western and Eastern Europe, some recurring positive side effects have been observed:
- reduction of perceived insecurity in the communities (this is extremely important because very often people think, and vote, based on this perception and rarely on objective crime statistics.);
- reduction of petty crime rate (the Ministries of the Interior of several European countries claim a reduction in crime from 20 to 40 per cent in areas where this programme is well developed.);
- improved citizen dialogue with police and institutions (dialogue is better structured where community policing policies have been implemented.)
Where Neighbourhood Watch is implemented and there is a good level of cooperation among neighbours and between neighbours and the police, we generally witness:
- an increase in social cohesion and citizens' sense of belonging to their community;
- an intensification of dialogue between citizens and institutions (especially at local level);
- a readiness of the institutions to develop processes of participatory democracy and the willingness of citizens to participate in them.
Ready for Neighbourhood Watch?
If the society is not ready for the promotion of Neighbourhood Watch programmes, by introducing into the public debate the principle that security is a matter not only for institutions but also for each individual citizen, the consequences could be counterproductive. Its 'forced' introduction could generate a perception of a loss of authority and status on the part of the police, and a fear of being 'evaluated' by citizens or, on the part of citizens, of becoming 'confidants' of the police. Instead, we are deeply convinced (and experiences in the field have proven it) that listening to citizens about their security needs and involving them, within a clear and defined legal framework, does not mean a loss of authority, status, or professionalism on the part of the police, but an increase in the latter's ability to prevent and repress crime.
Leonardo Campanale - EUNWA President
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