View source for Wikipedia:Patrols

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{{for|information on the patrolled edit feature of new page patrols|Wikipedia:New pages patrol/patrolled pages}}
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'''Patrols''' are a specialized type of [[WP:WikiProjects|WikiProject]] used in the English Wikipedia to watch over a class of pages and take any appropriate actions. Most patrol actions are performed by individual [[Wikipedia:Wikipedians|Wikipedians]], but some are performed by [[Wikipedia:Bot#Definitions|bots]]—computer programs or preprogrammed scripts that make automated edits without a need for real-time human decision-making.

There is a great need for patrols on Wikipedia. Wikipedia is big. In fact, Wikipedia is ''huge''. To help editors maintain reasonable quality on an encyclopedia this size, that almost anyone can edit, a number of [[WP:WIKIPEDIAN|Wikipedia community members]] have set up long-standing patrols. These patrols focus on various edits and feeds, and their members watch these feeds in the background, or from time to time, or really, whenever they like. Many of the well-known patrols have hundreds of users, and are directly responsible as a first line against [[WP:VAND|vandalism]], or other potential problems that may happen.

Why not join in?

==Patrols==
* [[Wikipedia:AfD Patrol|AfD Patrol]] ([[:Category:Wikipedian AfD patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols [[WP:AFD| AfD (Articles for deletion)]] to moderate the discussions with constructive comments.
* [[Wikipedia:Article Rescue Squadron|Article Rescue Squadron]] ([[:Category:Wikipedians in the Article Rescue Squadron|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols [[WP:AFD|AfD (Articles for deletion)]] for articles to rescue by adding referenced material.
* [[Wikipedia:Disambiguation pages with links|Disambiguation pages with links]] ([[:Category: Wikipedians who fix disambiguation pages with links|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols the [[Special:WhatLinksHere]] for disambiguation pages having incoming links.
* [[Wikipedia:Help desk patrol|Help desk patrol]] ([[:Category:Wikipedian help desk patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols the [[WP:Help desk|help desk]] and help users who tag their user spaces with {{tl|helpme}}.
* [[Wikipedia:New pages patrol|New pages patrol]] ([[:Category:Wikipedian new page patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols [[Special:Newpages|newly created pages]] to improve them and provide assistance to edits made by new users unfamiliar with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. Note this is a '''very involved''' area. There is much that can be learned about Wikipedia for anyone wishing to accurately engage in this patrol and be willing to master it.
* [[Wikipedia:Random page patrol|Random page patrol]] ([[:Category:Wikipedian random page patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols article pages randomly accessed through [[Special:Random]]. Venture into the unwatched and underappreciated corners of Wikipedia. Can be a serious engagement or just a fun diversion. Serendipitous discoveries abound!
* [[Wikipedia:Recent changes patrol|Recent changes patrol]] ([[:Category:Wikipedian recent changes patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols [[Special:Recentchanges|recent changes]] to article pages for harmful edits. Can be '''very rewarding'''! You may find yourself being given [[WP:Thanks|thanks]] and various [[WP:WikiLove|WikiLove]] from random strangers.
* [[Wikipedia:Typo Team|Typo Team]] ([[:Category: Wikipedians on the Typo Team|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols article pages to correct typos and misspellings.
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Unreferenced articles|WikiProject Unreferenced articles]] ([[:Category:Wikipedian unreferenced article patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols articles listed at [[:Category:Articles lacking sources]].
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Categories/uncategorized]] ([[:Category: Wikipedians working on uncategorized articles|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols [[:Category:Wikipedia backlog]] to categorizing articles that are uncategorized.
* Wikipedia:WikiProject Copyright patrol ([[:Category:Wikipedian copyright problem patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols pages listed at [[:Category:Possible copyright violations]] to address raised copyright issues.
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject New Zealand/Vandalism patrol|WikiProject New Zealand/Vandalism patrol]]&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols [[:Category:New Zealand]] pages for vandal edits.
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Proposed deletion patrolling|WikiProject proposed deletion patrolling]] ([[:Category:WikiProject proposed deletion patrollers|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols articles categorized into [[:Category:All articles proposed for deletion|all articles proposed for deletion]] to assist in Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Proposed deletion|proposed deletion process]]. (Semi-active Project)
* [[User:Cyde/Ref converter|WikiProject Reference Tags]] ([[:Category:Wikipedians who convert reference tags|''members'']])&nbsp;&ndash; Patrols articles to convert old reference templates into the most current reference templates.

==Patrol templates==
{{See also|Wikipedia:Userboxes/Wikipedia/Vandalism#Anti-vandalism}}

{{yytop}}
{{yy|User Unreferenced Articles}}
{{yy|User wikipedia/NPF Patrol}}
{{yy|User wikipedia/PROD Patrol}}
{{yy|User wikipedia/RC Patrol}}
{{yy|User wikipedia/RP Patrol}}
{{yy|User:UBX/Recent changes, new page, and random page patroller}}
{{yy|User:NickW557/Recent Changes, New Page, and Recent Files patroller}}
{{yy|User recent changes, new page, random page, and new pages feed patroller}}
{{yy|AfD patrol}}
{{yybottom}}

==See also==
* [[Wikipedia:New pages patrol/patrolled pages]]
* [[:Category:Wikipedians by Wikipedia collaboration|Wikipedians by Wikipedia collaboration]]
* [[:Category:Wikipedian page patrollers|Wikipedian page patrollers]]

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[[Category:Wikipedia patrols| Patrols]]