Neighbourhood Watch Accreditation and Support Programme

Your Neighbourhood needs you

Click here to apply for Neighbourhood Watch Accreditation. 

We all play an important role in keeping our community safe. We encourage communities to fight crime in their neighbourhood by joining their Neighbourhood Watch (NHW). There are many benefits for a community which takes responsibility when working closely with the police, to prevent and combat crime. 

We have a Neighbourhood Watch Accreditation and Support Programme that’s aimed at regulating and supporting the functions of accredited Neighbourhood Watch structures. The NHW model is a whole-of-society approach to prevent crime and violence. It encourages and empowers citizens to take part in preventing and responding to crime and violence in their communities. The Neighbourhood Watch Accreditation and Support Programme is aligned with section 6 of the Western Cape Community Safety Act of 2013.

The NHW Accreditation and Support Programme aims to:

• Provide support to accredited NHW to become sustainable and capable safety partners within government and communities.
• Acknowledge and recognise the efforts of accredited NHW and their contribution to safety. 
• Identify and document safety concerns within communities.

All NHW structures must first apply for accreditation to the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety (POCS).  Once approved for accreditation, the NHW structure becomes eligible for resourcing, training and funding. 

Accreditation of NHWs

Upon approval and accreditation of the NHW structure, they will receive an Accreditation Certificate and a “Starter Kit”. NHWs must renew the accreditation certificate 3 months before it expires so that the accreditation doesn’t lapse.  

Accredited NHWs

As of 19 May 2023, authorities formally accredited 519 NHWs across the Western Cape.

Training for NHWs

As part of the NHW Accreditation and Support Programme, the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety (POCS) offers Basic NHW training for free. POCS will provide all logistics for the training. They provide training in communities throughout the Western Cape at a community hall within the area.  

All NHWs in the Province must attend the "Basic Training," which serves as an "Orientation course" for NHW structures. 

Resources for NHWs

All accredited Neighbourhood Watches qualify for and receive a “Starter Kit” that contains the following:

• Reflective vests
• Torches
• A NHW banner
• A first-aid kit
• Safety whistles
• A storage box

*Please note that the “Starter Kit” is a once-off allocation.

The new NHW brand

The POCS has embarked on a journey to transform NHWs in the Western Cape.  This included changing the brand and creating a strategy to recruit more people to become members of their local accredited NHW. Read more about the new strategy, branding and the Neighbourhood Watch Volunteerism Campaign here.

Funding for NHWs

The Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety has developed a funding model aligned to the Western Cape Community Safety Act of 2013 (s.6). They will allocate departmental funds to support the accredited NHWs, subject to budget availability.

NHWs with accreditation may apply for funding and utilise it for:

• bank charges,
• administration cost,
• project cost and/or
• operational support of the NHW structure.

Funding applications must provide details of the project plan and the budget breakdown.

The accredited NHWs that apply for funding may receive a maximum allocation of Ten Thousand Rand (R10 000). After all the required documentation has been submitted to the Department, an adjudication panel meeting is held to recommend those applications which are compliant.