Block Watch : Start a Block Watch | Information for Captains | Safe Communities Grant Program | Block Watch FAQs

Start a Block Watch

Follow these easy steps to start a Block Watch in your neighbourhood:

1. Pick one Block Captain and one Block Co-Captain, who must be from different households.

You need to have both a Captain and Co-Captain before you will be trained, but you can have as many Captains and Co-Captains as is appropriate for your team. Each Captain and Co-Captain must submit an application.

2. Your Block Watch Team will start with the street(s) that the Captain and Co-Captain live on.

You need a minimum of 10 households combined on the block(s) you live on. Recruit only the homes that have views of the back or alley side and / or the front door. You may also want to recruit the homes on the ends of your street in the next block. If you recruit beyond the block that you live on, additional team members must have a view of at least one other team member's residence.

For condominiums with more than one complex, it is recommended, but not required, that you recruit a Captain or Co-Captain for each site.

It is not recommended that you invite every household on your block to participate. Instead, you are encouraged to ask the households that you know and ask them to refer you to households they know. You will want to take care to try not to invite any problem premises.

3. Mail or Drop Off a Completed Application Form & Required ID

Fill out a New Block Watch Team Application (PDF), or for Block Watch teams already active, fill out the Established Block Watch Team – Replacement or Additional Captain / Co-Captain Application (PDF). Mail or drop off your application, along with a photocopy of the front and back of your drivers licence(s) to the Block Watch office at:

ATTENTION: Vancouver Block Watch
Vancouver Police Department
2120 Cambie St.
Vancouver, B.C.
V5Z 4N6

Only Captains and Co-Captains must fill out application forms, not the participants on your team.

4. Provide At Least One Email Address

All Block Watch teams must supply the Block Watch office with at least one email address. We have an extremely busy office and all communications are done via email (blockwatch@vpd.ca).

5. Wait for Notification Email

Once your new Block Watch Team application is received, you will be sent a notification by e-mail and tentatively booked to attend the next training class pending the completion of your households' background checks. When the VPD has completed the background check(s), you will again be notified and confirmed for training.

6. Captain(s) and Co-Captain(s) Attend a Training Session

The Captain(s) and Co-Captain(s) are required to attend a three-hour training session held at 2120 Cambie Street.

7. Arrange Your First Annual Block Watch Team Meeting

After you have been trained, you will be asked to arrange your first annual Block Watch team meeting and invite a police officer to attend.

8. Complete & Submit a Block Watch Map

At your first meeting, you will need to complete and submit a block map which lists the addresses and contact information for your team members and your Block Watch street sign placement locations.

9. Update Your Block Watch Map Annually

Annually, the Block Captain will be required to submit an updated Block Watch map and organize a neighbourhood Block Watch meeting. The map is required even if there are no changes to keep the Block Watch program active in your neighourhood.