This is a checklist to prepare yourself for monitoring public events or incidents like police conflict, community conflict, and registration and voting for elections:

KNOWLEDGE

What are your rights as a monitor; the procedure for making complaints; where the nearest police station is; the background to the event; what the area looks like; names of organisations working in the area, and services you can call on for support.

EQUIPMENT

Stationery for recording the event; incident sheets; useful contact numbers; your ID; money, and a cell phone with camera.

DRESS

Dress appropriately with an armband or identification card to identify you as a monitor, but no activist badges or t-shirt.

PLANNING AND TEAMWORK

Know the plans for the event and establish a communication network within your organisation, and with other organisations.