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Preface
Community safety is a strategic priority for a range of key players who collectively can build safer, more inclusive, healthier and more vibrant, economically attractive communities
Since the late 1980's, there has been an increasing focus on community safety issues, and a realisation of the social and economic implications which impact on local communities.
In February 1999, The Scottish Office published A Safer Scotland which describes government strategy for tackling crime and its causes, and identifies the way forward for building public confidence and safer communities.
The Government bases the principles of A Safer Scotland on the premise that 'public safety is of paramount concern and that everyone should feel safe in their community and their own home'.
A Safer Scotland was preceded by a partnership strategy for action on community safety, Safer Communities through Partnership, published following two consultative conferences involving local authorities, voluntary organisations and the business community. The content of the publication was approved by The Scottish Office, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) and the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS).
That strategy encourages local authorities and the police to take the lead in building safer communities by establishing local partnerships involving public organisations, the private sector and voluntary bodies.
CoSLA endorsed its commitment to community safety by publishing Community Safety _ a Key Council Strategy. Their guidance aims to ensure co-ordinated actions to 'protect people's right to live in confidence and without fear for their own or other people's safety'.
Local authorities and their partners have a major role in the delivery of public services and the development of social and economic policy that can impact on public safety. By accommodating community safety targets in their mainstream activities, local authorities can sustain improvements and build on future success.
CoSLA's guidance provides examples of community safety issues which can be influenced by local authorities in four areas:
ACPOS has also given its commitment to creating safer communities with publication of a policy statement.
It is widely accepted that the most effective community safety strategies are based on locally defined information, needs and concerns. Many of the recently formed partnerships have adopted the broad definition of community safety which embraces focused action plans to tackle crime and disorder (including anti-social behaviour) and fear of crime, together with measures to address road, fire, water and home safety.
At local level, support from local people and political leaders is essential for the ongoing development of community safety strategies. Community information and data drawn from a variety of sources, including the local authority, police, fire service, health service, business and voluntary sectors, will form the basis of the community safety priority planning process and ultimately the strategy.
Local people must be involved in defining local problems and often they will be best places to suggest solutions. Careful consideration should be given to community consultation and participation.
Government supports the development of community safety in Scotland at the highest levels, with regular ministerial direction. The Government also intends that community safety strategies and plans which address the concerns and risk factors of public safety will link to other recent national initiatives, including:
The Scottish Executive Crime Prevention Unit continues to support the development of community safety and crime prevention initiatives through a range of national initiatives and national advertising campaigns. The Scottish Executive Community Safety Challenge Fund will provide tangible support for the development of innovative projects which tackle crime, the causes of crime and promote community safety.
In June 1997, The Scottish Office funded the secondment of a community safety adviser to work with Scottish local authorities and their partners to achieve a co-ordinated approach to community safety. The adviser's role is to encourage local authorities to take the lead, along with police, to form local community safety partnerships and ultimately to co-ordinate the publication of community safety action plans in support of a council wide strategy.
CoSLA will continue to encourage local authorities to engage in community consultation and participation to address community safety issues. Improved inter-service planning and policy development will ensure community safety becomes intrinsic to service delivery.
The Scottish Local Authority Community Safety (SLACS) Forum, a practitioners' group, meets bi-monthly and is advised by Scottish Executive Crime Prevention Unit and CoSLA on issues relating to the national community safety agendas.
The main purpose of this guidance is to assist in developing community safety partnerships throughout Scotland and to provide a framework which partnerships are encouraged to apply to all aspects of community safety.
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland
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