Guardian Angels

The Guardian Angels are an anti-crime organization that operate in the United States, Europe, Brazil, South Africa, and Japan. The organization was founded in New York City in 1979 by Curtis Sliwa, a McDonald's manager and community activist. It provides several community service programs, including safety and observation patrols, courses in self-defense, and urban beautification. Legal grounds for their actions and patrols are disputed, especially in Europe and Japan; however, no Guardian Angel has ever been convicted nor arrested for a crime in the aforementioned countries.

Related Topics:
United States - Europe - Brazil - South Africa - Japan - New York City - 1979 - Curtis Sliwa - McDonald's - Self-defense - Urban beautification

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Safety patrols are the main focal point of the Guardian Angels. Its members, who can be identified by their red berets and jackets, perform numerous patrols within many major cities, to serve as a visual deterrent to crime and to assist the police in reporting suspicious activity. They are also trained in the use of a citizen's arrest. In 1995, the Guardian Angels expanded their role to the Internet through its CyberAngels organization, which provides education on how to prevent online crime and fight against child pornography (e.g. volunteers "patrol" chatrooms and report suspicious behaviour to the authorities and to the server operators).

Related Topics:
Beret - Police - Citizen's arrest - 1995 - Internet - Child pornography

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