I am happy to be here this evening to join your Block Party and launch the Neighbourhood Watch Zone Scheme for Kg Ubi Eunos Village RC.

2 Safety and Security are matters of concerns for all of us in the community. Safety and Security are important factors that contribute to our well-being. Thus a happy community where its members live harmoniously with one another is a community which lives in a safe and secure environment. This can be achieved only if its members contribute, participate and initiate programmes so that its safety and security is enhanced.

3 The Neighbourhood Watch Zone (NWZ) is a pro-active scheme whereby the community plays a direct and active role in ensuring the well-being of its own neighbourhood. The main objective of the Scheme is to cultivate mutual assistance among residents in the community so as to keep the neighbourhoods safe from crime. To date, a total of 502 NWZs have been implemented island-wide.

4 In a survey conducted in 1998, it was found that the Scheme has been effective in raising the general level of crime prevention awareness of residents. This increased awareness will enable residents to be better able to prevent crime.

5 I am happy to note that our grassroots leaders have responded with enthusiasm to the scheme by signing up as NWZ Liaison and Assistant Liaison Officers. I hope that they can work together with the Police to help prevent crimes such as housebreaking, robbery, snatch theft and motor vehicle theft. The Liaison and Assistant Liaison Officers will co-ordinate and implement crime prevention programmes and activities to strengthen the sense of security in the neighbourhood. They will also help to disseminate crime prevention information to residents and channel the residents’ crime concerns to the RC and NPP.

6 Finally, it is my wish that the partnership between the Police, in particular, the Kg Ubi NPP officers, the grassroots leaders and the residents can contribute positively towards the NWZ scheme so that it will make our neighbourhood a safer and more secure place for all residents to live in.

7 On this note, I am pleased to announce the launch of the Neighbourhood Watch Zone scheme for Kg Ubi Eunos Village RC.

8 Thank you.

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