Table of Contents
What is Community
Safety?
Community safety is about recognising the need for all
sections of the community, to work together to create a safer environment for
people to work, live and travel. This means building partnerships between
police, government agencies, local councils, community organizations and
individuals to promote community safety.
Crime prevention through environmental design, the
development of local solutions to local problems and greater coordination
amongst organizations, both public and private, has the potential to prevent
crime.
In New South Wales, local initiatives such as Neighbourhood
Watch and Safety House are helping
to make communities safer. The Police
Service has also forged a strong partnership with car manufacturers, repairers,
insurance companies and the Roods and Traffic Authority to help reduce car
theft. This shows what can be done by working together to address community
concerns.
Why Community
Safety?
The Challenge
The Police Service has introduced a range of initiatives to
improve community safety. These include the introduction of beat police to help reduce
crime and fear on NSW streets, specialised support for victims of crime and a
range of community-based policing programs. But we cannot do it alone.
Many crimes are opportunistic. They happen because the
environment is conducive to crime or because people think it will be easy to
"get away with it". The challenge is to recognise these problems and do
something about it. Urban design con encourage crime through poor lighting,
hidden recesses in buildings or deserted open spaces. Inadequate services can
also contribute. This could be anything from telephones that don't work to
transport facilities that are poorly located. hen these services can be easily
and cost effectively improved once the problems are identified.
Creating safer local environments will help those more
vulnerable members of our community feel safer. By working together we can
identify problems and demonstrate how small changes can have big
benefits.
How Community Safety Will
Work
NSW Community Safety Council
The NSW Community Safety Council will be established to
identify opportunities to enhance community safety. It will help develop a
co-ordinated approach among government agencies. The council will be chaired by
the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and will comprise the Chief
Executive Officers of leading agencies such as the Police Service and the
Departments of
Housing and Planning. Other agencies such as the Chief Secretaries
and the Attorney Generals Departments will be represented when
specific issues arise.
Community Safety Committees
The Government hopes to establish 30 to 40 Community Safety
Committees over the next twelve months and eventually many more. The cooperation
and enthusiasm of local government councils is important and will be matched by
assistance from local police and the Office of Community Safety.
Office of Community Safety
The Office of Community Safety is part of the Police
Service. It supports and assists the NSW Community Safety Council and local
community safety committees An important part of its job will be providing
guidelines and accreditation to community safety committees and administering
grants to local committees.
Community Safety Trust Fund
The Government is establishing a Community Safety Trust
Fund. Up to $1 million will be available each financial year for grants to
accredited community safety committees to carry out projects and works aimed at
making the environment safer. Other sources of funds and grunts will be
investigated such as federal funding and more effective use of existing
resources. The business community will also be encouraged to participate.
Safety Audits
Community Safety Committees will conduct safety audits.
These audits are undertaken by a group of people who identify unsafe or
frightening aspects of the local environment such as poorly lit parks, places
where rubbish and garbage accumulates, or inappropriately timed or located
transport services.
Safety audits highlight problem areas and indicate
solutions. Many solutions will be straightforward such as changing garbage
collection days or improving lighting. Others may be more expensive and require
applications for special project grants from the Community Safety Trust
Fund.
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Safer By Design
Specially trained police will assist local government
councils by commenting on the safety and crime implications of development
applications.
Role of the New South Wales Police
Service
The introduction of community-based policing
has helped the Police Service develop a working partnership with local
communities. The Service and community groups are striving to address community
concerns through initiatives such as Neighbourhood Watch; Safety House; Customer
Councils; Volunteers in
Policing; Liquor Consultative Committees; and Lay Visitors. While keeping
their individual identities, existing community groups will be encouraged to
work together under the Community Safety umbrella. The Police Service also have
a special responsibility for making our streets and homes safer and will work
closely with local committees to help achieve community objectives.
Who is Responsible
State Government
There are government agencies with a special role in
community safety and criminal justice. These agencies include the Police
Service, Attorney General's Department, Juvenile Justice and Corrective
Services. There are others like the Departments of Transport, Health, Housing
and Planning, whose decisions have important implications for community safety.
The NSW Government is committed to coordinating its services to build safer
communities. It is also sharing information and experiences with other
Australian and international governments.
Local Councils
Local councils deliver a range of services to local
communities. Services such as street lighting, parks, roads and waste services.
Councils are also the focus of local activity and a rallying point for many
citizens interested in serving their communities. Like police, councils are
often called upon to develop local solutions to local problems. By working
together, councils and police can form valuable partnerships. Councils con also
seek advice from police on potential opportunities for crime in building and
development applications.
Community Groups
In each local community there are organizations and groups
with an important contribution to make to community safety. Progress
Associations, Chambers of Commerce, Neighbourhood Watch, Safety House and
traffic committees are just some of the organizations that can provide vital
input into local Community Safety Committees. These can become peak bodies for
all local citizens interested in safer streets and homes.
Individuals
Everyone has a role to play be it School Principals, Station
Masters, members of community groups or citizens. Community safety relies on
individuals highlighting issues of concern, helping conduct safety audits and
developing networks with others. Some people will be more interested in some
aspects than others but every member of the community can help make things
safer.
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Who to Contact
For more information contact the Office of Community Safety
on 339 5733. For information on Neighbourhood Watch, Safety House and other
community- based policing programs contact your local police. It you have any
information about criminal activities in your neighbourhood contact Crime
Stoppers on 1800 333 000, 1800 025122, or
(02) 93846467 and via email at help.us@crimestoppers.net.au
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