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Community Watch

Community Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of residents in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime, solve problems, and improve the quality of life in your neighborhoods. Community Watch also goes beyond crime prevention to address a wide array of other livability issues and is aimed to educate and communicate with the public. In it you will get to know and work with your neighbors, and learn how to:

  • Recognize and report crimes and suspicious activities
  • Protect yourself, your family, and your property
  • Protect your neighbor’s family and property
  • Identify crime and disorder problems in your area and work with Oxford Police Department personnel to them.

Community Watch operates to educate participants in the principles of deterrence, delay, and detection. The program is designed for residents to work with the Oxford Police Department instead of relying on law enforcement to do it for them. Vigilante actions are in no way condoned by the Community Watch Program. No one is asked to take personal risks or be a hero. Community Watch across the nation has shown to effectively decrease crime and increase personal security which creates a greater sense of community involvement.

 Community Watch Program is:

  1. Residents in the community working with the police department to reduce crime and to improve the quality of life.
  2. Residents in the community taking on a leadership role and accepting responsibility for their community.
  3. Residents coming together to discuss their concerns which lead to developing a plan of action that addresses those concerns.
  4. A cooperative effort to create a sense of community and put the neighbor back into the neighborhood.


Community Watch program is NOT:

  1. A vigilante force working outside the normal procedures of law enforcement.
  2. A program designed for participants to take personal risks to prevent crime.
  3. A 100% guarantee that crime will not occur in your neighborhood.

Community Watch will be as effective as you and your neighbors choose to make it. If you apply some effort into maintaining one, your Community Watch can be an effective deterrent to criminal activity in your area. Law enforcement alone cannot effectively reduce crime without the participation of the community. When we are all educated, we are better skilled to evaluate and deter criminal activity.

For further information about Community Watch or how to start a Community Watch group in your area please contact Detective Fields at (919)693-3161 or email rfields@oxfordncpd.org