The social media app used to track crime, WeWatch, is being used in Goonellabah, Ballina and Coraki and is looking to gain further traction in the region. 

Local coordinator Marc Ward has approached the NSW Police Minister, Yasmin Catley, to discuss potential collaboration with the Police force. WeWatch is currently looking for support to launch in Lismore.

This week, Marc reports, “WeWatch has had 7533 local downloads since the Goonellabah Community Crime Meeting on March 3rd. Interest via Facebook has also grown, and its members are now over 900.”

WeWatch is a Social Media platform. Marc says, “The app functions the same way that any social media group would function. Which is that anyone can post information on it. It's just a community option, where it's not buried by other stuff on social media.”

The potential for revealing crime patterns is shown on a night in early May, both in the Facebook group and via the app.  

Marc reports, “On the weekend of May 4th, reports on the Facebook WeWatch page showed that roughly one-third of the homes in Silver Gull Drive, East Ballina, were broken into on the same night.”

There is concern about crime and a desire to understand what is happening in a community as it occurs. Marc elaborates, “The app was recommended many times on the Facebook posts related to the Silver Gull Dr incidents on the Ballina Crime Reports Facebook page.

“During that weekend and 5 days after, the app was downloaded 1100 times; a 400% increase on the previous 7 days. This says to me that the community are actively seeking solutions and view the WeWatch app as a viable option. It's just a matter of revealing it to the wider population.”

On that same night, May 4th, a crime wave was occurring in Cumbalum. Below is a screenshot of the WeWatch app flagging these incidents. Marc says, “Most reported as near-miss events with criminals attempting to gain access to property or vehicles but were unsuccessful. 

Map of the multiple incidents reported on May 4th.

“It can't be said that the app prevented these residences becoming victims that night as the WeWatch app is not the only variable however, it is a good visual representation of how criminals will go "door-to-door" and how neighbourhood communication can prevent this type of crime.”

The app “pings” when a crime is reported within a kilometre of where you are. Marc suggests that if there is activity in the area, it is a good cautionary action to turn your lights on to ward against unwelcome stealthy visitors.

The app not only reports that a crime is taking place but also allows users to post an image of the occurrence.

Marc says, “If pictures are going to get posted, they need to be posted of someone actually committing a crime. Well, you can post others, but they will be removed.” 

An individual running away does not constitute a crime. Imagery displayed from a security camera, may assist in identifying a perpetrator.

Even so, we discussed how this could bring about a case of mistaken identity. If someone rang up saying that a photo looked remarkably like another person who was not involved in a crime, or they are being victimised due to an image that had a resemblance, Marc can be contacted to correct the issue.

“I haven't really heard of that happening too often. I think there's only one case that I know of. It's pretty easy to speak to someone when you send an email or phone call. What happens is the photo would be removed from the site.”

Marc also discusses the consideration of using the app as a potential distraction from a larger crime incident, “A criminal cannot create an alert somewhere as a decoy unless they're physically at the place they're trying to decoy away from. 

“You sign up with your phone number, so if you wanted to make multiple accounts, you would have to have multiple phones. And there is internal reporting so that if someone was constantly creating false alerts or distractions, they can be reported and removed, and then they can't recreate an account with that phone number.”

Marc has reached out to see if the app can help professional law enforcers to formally alert them of criminal activity hot spots. Marc emailed Police Minister Yasmin Catley on Saturday and "Is awaiting a response to the suggestion that we collaborate with police to further develop the app for facilitating communication between police and members of the community."

“I have invited the police to meet to discuss the matter as well as scrutinise the app's potential for misuse by perpetrators (which was a main concern brought up at the Ballina meeting).”

Marc suggests that possible changes to app functionality for this goal could be: 

- Customisable alert radius set to the LGA of local law enforcement, rather than the default 1km for residents

- A tiered category of reporting to let police know the severity of the incident

- Geographical crime data that shows “hot-spot” areas of a locality

- Push-notifications to devices for police to directly communicate with residents

- Timed alerts to remind residents to lock up at known times of criminal activity

What the App looks like in the setup phase.

The app is currently available for use throughout Australia, but the rollout in this area is being closely monitored for its success.

Marc is not an owner or developer of the app. “I'm just a resident, and I work closely with the guys that own the app. It's turned into a bit of a pilot program here for them. So that we can develop a strategy where it can be rolled out in other towns.

The app is completely free for users at the moment. Marc says all “running costs are just worn by the company that owns it.”

Marc believes, “Our communities have demonstrated they are willing and able to support law enforcement in reducing crime when they are given modern, simple, free and accessible tools to do so. I would love to see some kind of endorsement from police and local politicians to organise a large community meeting in Lismore to bring people together over the issue.”

WeWatch have found it beneficial to have a meeting in a location where the app is being rolled out. It allows people to address any concerns, and gives them the opportunity of a voice in the vicinity. As a social media platform - the more people that use it, the bigger benefit it is to users. If anyone is interested in supporting

To find out any further developments in Lismore, join the Goonellabah WeWatch Facebook page.

To read about what happened at the Goonellabah Meeting in March, click here.