If people are afraid to be on the street in the evening, a residents' patrol is probably not a good first move for your group. Working toward better street lighting and arranging free home security surveys by police may be better starting points. And success helps overcome fear, so your next action can be more direct. Key Partners Police and sheriffs are where people generally look first for help in preventing crime. Increasingly, they focus on helping neighborhoods solve problems that interfere with security and well-being, not just responding when trouble's already struck.
Most police departments have a crime prevention officer, who can help in many ways.
Other government agencies, social service organizations, and community associations can also help. There's often more than one way to get the job done. Nuisance abatement laws, public health regulations, housing codes, fire codes, and building codes all can be used to drive out drug dealers and other criminals. Work with the people in local government who issue the permits and enforce the codes. Schools, libraries, public transit, housing, public works, recreation, health, social services, and other groups can all help solve neighborhood problems.