Community patrols are likely to begin in Balclutha in October after a public meeting endorsed the idea of giving local police extra sets of eyes and ears around the town at night.
About 15 people attended a meeting on Monday night to gauge interest in the concept of residents' patrols around the town.
Patrols would report incidents of concern to police.
Balclutha community co-ordinator Irene Mosley was pleased with the support shown at the meeting, which included three police staff who supported the idea.
Mrs Mosley and others would now go back to local service clubs, who had originally backed the idea, to see if their members were interested in taking part.
She said patrols could provide a useful service for the community as members may well see criminal activity before police.
They could then immediately report matters to police.
Community patrols had worked well in other areas, and Mrs Mosley saw no reason why they could not benefit Balclutha.
The district's top police officer has also backed the idea.
Senior Sergeant Richard Whitmore worked in Gore when a community patrol was operating there and said it was "definitely a positive influence".
He thought a similar move in Balclutha would be of benefit too.
