to ensure more security at home and workplace, target crime problems and take action to prevent them.

Key Innovation
people (neighbours) have created a system where local communities are working against crime and rising a feeling of security.

Problematic background and context
Violence, theft and lack of safety are very actual themes in Estonia, more in some places than others. Being the victim of theft in Tallinn is possible in almost any part of the city. Also, some regions of the cities from more colorful stages of history need a lot of time of reconditioning or planning. Public areas like territories between the houses, yards, parking spaces, parks, playgrounds, pavements and etc. are often dark, left uncared for or have become a ’non-existent place’, where thieves and homeless people can act in ’good conditions’. The fast increasing problem is school violence and drugs among students. The Estonian Neighbourhood Watch (ENHW) had its roots in people’s fear of crime and their desire to protect themselves. Personal motivations are to live in a healthy, sustainable and secure community and environment by socialising with each other.

Solution description
Aim of the solution is to create a sense of security, which is offered by strong and open community – people know and help each other; people communicate with each other, there is an exchange of information; people are environment-friendly, care about neighbourhood. ENHW mission is community development and health promotion since it is only with a safe, inclusive and healthy city that there is real and lasting crime prevention. MTÜ “Eesti Naabrivalve” (Nonprofitable Association „Estonian Neighbourhood Watch“) is an association founded as a civic initiative, goal of which is increasing of sense of security of dwellers at homes and close vicinity to homes by dweller’s own active practice in the field of neighbourhood watch. Every sector (min. 50% of the appartments in one building or min. 4 private houses) has made a contract with ENHW, local municipality and local police department. Mostly every sector has its own police constable with who to communicate as often as needed. (Other people who are not joined ENHW doesn’t have an advantage like this). Security firm is also a sponsor. Every member of the sector has all the contacts of other users, police, municipality and ENHW, a list of advices of how to react in different situations – all made and given by ENHW. Every user has a sticker called ’Neighbour Guards’ to put on the window to acknowledge intruders and every house has posters to put on the buildings, fences and etc. to inform about neighbourhood watch area. ENHW also organize trainings to the head of the sectors and regular meetings with local municipalities. A contract made with the ENHW is quite unique in Europe as well as an association like ENHW which coordinates all the work of the neighbourhood watch. Addresses mainly social values, to care about others, environment and one’s own home.

Timeframe
MTÜ “Eesti Naabrivalve” (Nonprofitable Association „Estonian Neighbourhood Watch“) is founded on May, 5th, 2000.

Development phase
Diffusion:
By now there are 240 sectors with ca. 6500 persons joined with ENHW. A new web-page with police’s announces of prosecuted thievies and an intranet only for ENHW users to exchange information will be launched in the recent future. Chairman of the board, Tarmo Vaik, and his team has developed several other important social security projects as „Business Watch“ (2003/04), „School Watch“ (2003) and „Kindergarden Watch“ (2004). School Watch is highly needed in Estonia, because of school violence and usage of drugs among students. ENHW has founded a system that in every school there is a group of anonymus students to inform their contact person (constable or named teacher) about dangerous aspects. It has worked very effectively in the participated 25 schools in Tallinn. This year it will be expanded to other towns also. It is an unique case with award from EUCPN contest as a ’Most Promising Project’.
Maturity:
ENHW has attained strong position and rapid growth. It has warmly welcomed by every sector of the country and has approved a lot of positive media response. From the year 2005 15 new employees can be hired as the European Union Phare Access finances the program. Further work will go on by gaining more members as well as aiming more effective attention to joined areas and members. Also, school, kindergarden and business watch will be expanded.

Revenue/costs model
Every new sector has to pay 100 EEK (=7 euros) starting fee to the ENHW. The membership fee for one sector is 100 EEK in a year which is paid by invoice payment. ENHW is financed by government, by a few local municipalities, sponsors and membership fees. Before 2005 there were 4 employees and 10 volunteers, now will be hired 15 employees as the European Phare Access program finances it.

Social evaluation
The biggest value for society is that the solution demands people’s active participation, through that people are able to change towards more valuable and better society, reliability and healthier environment. People have the chance to improve the condition by themselves. „Big business“ done by vandalism as well as drug distribution among youngsters can be efficiently prevented. Thieves have already understood and felt the working strength of neighbourhood watch area.

Environmental evaluation
People learn to value what sorrounds them and what does it mean to live in a better organized environment.

Economical evaluation
Econimically does not benefit anyone, if not to mention that the result of the thefts are money loss, through active neighbourhood watch that can be saved up. Critical point for ENHW is depending on government and their support.

Authors
Kätlin Kangur, Anna Roomet / Estonian Academy of Arts / Estonia