THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 37 lines
A new police program that gives Norfolk residents crime statistics about their neighborhoods is a winner.
All across Hampton Roads, residents are taking a larger role in improving and protecting their neighborhoods. The Norfolk program should aid residents striving to make their neighborhoods safer.
Thanks to the wonders of computers, the program is simplicity itself.
A resident tells police the boundaries of his or her neighborhood. Each month, for no fee, police will run a crime report on that area. Naomi Aoki reported Monday, ``The monthly reports will include the date and time of the crime, the type of crime and the street and block number where it happened. All information is public. More than 60 types of crime - including all violent crime, property crimes and drug offenses - will be part of the monthly reports.''
For maximum effectiveness, the crime reports can be published in neighborhood newsletters. John Roger, president of the Bayside Civic League, already had been publishing crime statistics in that neighborhood's quarterly newsletter, but he had to compile the information from individual crime reports.
Roger said the statistics can be put to good use. ``If you know there are burglaries around the corner,'' he said, ``you are going to be more careful. The statistics are going to make you more aware, and hopefully you are going to watch out for things and report them.''
Norfolk police Capt. Les Barnard said, ``I think knowledge is power, and folks that are knowledgeable about their surroundings are more empowered to change their surroundings.''
Every city should offer this program, if possible. It helps makes residents partners with police in the war against crime. by CNB