On Friday August 5th, 2011 the members of the Overplus Lane, Store Lane, Farmstead Lane and Paynters Lane area in Sandys joined together to create a Neighbourhood Watch. Members of the Western Community Action Team (WCAT) Constable Jean Louis and Constable Swainson were contacted by a resident of Store Lane, Ms. Carla Basden, in efforts to help her “take back the neighbourhood."

“Ms. Basden was very enthusiastic about it,” said Constable Jean Louis. “This was her idea and we came to show our support.”

Ms. Basden developed the idea for the Neighbourhood Watch after seeing her sister form one just a few minutes away on Woodlawn Road, across from White Hill field. “I saw the amount of crime that was happening right up the street and decided to start this Neighbourhood Watch as a preventative measure,” she said. “If crime can happen a few minutes away, it can happen here too.”

The event took place in a neighbour’s yard on Store Lane, complete with a barbeque and music. The event was attended by over 60 members of the community and Ms. Basden said they all played a part in organising the event. “It was my idea to start a neighbourhood watch, but I got the young guys in the neighbourhood to put flyers in everyone’s mailbox,” she said. “Everyone seems to be really excited about it.”

Ms. Basden said this event was the first time many members of the neighbourhood would meet and she encouraged everyone to wear name tags as a way to “break the ice." Constable Jean-Louis said that he was “very pleased” with the turnout for this event and also said this was the largest neighbourhood watch gathering he had seen thus far.

Constable Swainson and Jean Louis handed out pamphlets to the attendees with advice on protecting their homes. They also addressed the group and gave advice about what they can do to make their community safer, with suggestions from the crowds to add street lights and speed bumps to their narrow roads.

Constable Jean-Louis made note of the diversity of the neighbourhood as a reason for the success of the event. “No matter colour or creed, everyone is here for a common cause,” he said.