Stouffville Community Policing Centre Programs and Activities
Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Watch is a program aimed at reducing crime in the community. It involves getting to know one's neighbours and introducing them to the concept of Neighbourhood Watch - that is, good neighbours working together, alert to the potential of crime and willing to look out for one another's interests. Neighbours working together through Neighbourhood Watch can combat crime in their area the most effective way - before it starts.
Neighbourhood Watch provides a means of reducing the opportunity for crime to occur, through the active participation of citizens. Citizens are taught how to make their homes less inviting as a target for thieves; how to participate in Operation Identification, making their personal property less desirable to burglars; and how to stay alert to suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods.
The Community Policing Centre will provide information and assist citizens who are interested in implementing a Neighbourhood Watch in their area.
Road Watch
Road Watch incorporates three components essential to modifying aggressive driving behaviour; public education, awareness and enforcement. Together, these key ingredients can reduce motor vehicle collisions, prevent injury and even death.
Take action against agressive driving - report it online at yrp.ca!
Aggressive driving
Aggressive driving includes speeding, following too close, failing to yield, unsafe lane changes, unsafe passing, disobeying traffic signs and signals. This type of driver behaviour has serious implications for us all.
Road Watch online reporting
If you observe an act of aggressive driving in York Region, please report it. Reports can be filed online at the yrp.ca by clicking on the Road Watch link under Online Reporting.
In order to safeguard against abuse, anonymous reports cannot be submitted. Your information remains confidential and is never shared with the owner of the vehicle you are reporting on.
What happens once I submit a report?
The first time a report is received about a vehicle, York Regional Police will send the registered owner of the suspect vehicle a letter informing them of the details of the incident. The letter will highlight the date and location that the incident occurred and the basis of the allegation. Road safety is the theme of the message, encouraging safe and responsible driving.
A second report received about a vehicle will result in the registered owner being sent a second letter, which will be followed by a phone call from an officer.
A third report will result in an officer attending the address of the registered owner. The officer will then determine the appropriate course of action.
Child Car Seat Information
The Community Policing Centre will provide citizens with information regarding the proper installation of child seats as well as information on the provincial laws regulating child seats in vehicles.
Bicycle Registration
The SCPC will provide information regarding registering your or your child's bicycle with the York Regional Police. You may obtain the necessary forms to register your bicycle with the police at the Community Policing Centre which will assist the police in returning bicycles to their rightful owner when they are turned in by the public.
Information provided by you will be retained for a period of five years at which time you must re-register your bicycle.
Child Identification Sessions
Having accurate and up-to-date records are exceptionally valuable when searching for a missing child. Time is critical in locating your child, so the more information available to the police the faster they can respond. York Regional Police suggest that every parent should have up to date records of their child.
The Community Policing Centre holds child fingerprint sessions which will allow you to bring your child in to have their fingerprints taken and placed on a fingerprint card for you to retain in the event that your child should ever go missing, which will assist police with their search efforts.
Graffiti Prevention
Graffiti is any writing, drawing or symbol applied to any surface without the consent of the property owner or agent. Graffiti is a problem that, if left unchecked, can seriously damage the reputation of a community while adversely affecting the economy and quality of life enjoyed by the residents. Graffiti crime can result in higher taxes for clean-up, lower property values and heightened fear of crime.
The Community Policing Centre will provide valuable information on graffiti, including the most common targets, different types of tagging, and why the removal of graffiti is important. Information will also be provided on steps you can take to help prevent this crime from occuring on your property including information on Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).
Bicycle Rodeo
The Stouffville Community Policing Centre holds a bicycle rodeo during the year which allows youths to bring their bicycles and have them checked for safety by a representative from Boyd Sports, a local bicycle shop. Once the bicycles are checked, the youths are taught bicycle safety which includes the rules of the roads and the proper use of hand signals by a police officer from York Regional Police. At the end of the session, the youths have the opportunity to participate in an obsticle course with their bicycles. At the end of the day, the participants will receive a certificate which shows they successfully completed the bicycle rodeo.
Basketball Tournament
The SCPC hosts an annual basketball tournament which involves Grade 8 and Grade 9 students from local schools. The tournament is refereed by police officers from York Regional Police and the end of the tournament, the winners have the opporunity to play a game against police officers.
