|
A Stronger Community Partnership is a multilateral response between community leaders, business, government, local government, non government agencies and community organisations designed to combine energy, ideas, financial strengths and resources to take ownership of a broad range of issues facing a community. The central premise of this type of partnership is that communities are best situated and equipped to identify and resolve problems, as well as to capitalise on opportunities.
The Devonport Community Safety Liaison Group (CSLG) has been established as a formal partnership between Council, Police, Government agencies, Community Organisations and local residents to work together collaboratively to improve community safety in the municipality since July 2001. The following organisations and groups are currently represented in the Community Safety Liaison Group:
- Devonport City Council
- Devonport Police
- Devonport City Promotions (Business Link)
- Neighbourhood Watch
- Department of Health & Community Services Centre
- Police & Citizens Youth Club
- Local Business Representatives
- Department of Housing
- Drug Education Network
- Youth Justice Department
- Education Department
Based on the role Local Government can play in crime prevention, Devonport City Council has chosen to employ the following strategies for this Community Safety Plan:
Early Intervention/Development - this strategy is based around the provision of support at critical times in social, physical and mental development to prevent later offending.
Community Development - is based around a combination of programs aimed at building up communities to be able to address their own social problems.
Situational/Environmental - includes the improvement of the physical environment in which people live and reduce the opportunity of crime through effective urban design, planning and management of areas with community safety and crime prevention in mind.
Roles & Responsibilities
- To create a safer Devonport by developing, providing and promoting activities which address community safety issues.
- To provide and promote activities which contribute to raising the level of community awareness and a better understanding of community safety for residents and people visiting/working/living within the municipality.
- Ensure that formal links are established with Council and community networking forums, community, business, police, schools and non government agencies, and to monitor their needs and register issues/problems or concerns for action.
Achievements
Build Community Capacity
- Develop linkages and partnerships between major stakeholders
- Identification of issues and gaps
- Identification of safety issues within the community (eg. King Street)
- Develop local solutions in partnership
- Improved communication between Council, Police and the community
- Information sessions
- Identify safety training for local businesses
- Reprinting and pooling of resources for The Muv
Youth Community & Safety
- Early intervention and prevention (Lighthouse: Can Do, Will Do Project)
- Increased recreational activities - Mersey PCYC
- Inter-Agency Support Team
Situational & Environmental Impact
- Improved lighting within King Street
- Monitoring of CCTV (upgrade and modernisation)
- Council Vandalism daily reporting to the Police
- Mersey Bluff - hooning
- Improved Safety at Mersey Bluff Playground (fencing etc)
Community Awareness & Information
- Information Packs
- Developed Home & Personal Safety Sheets
- Distribute community safety resources (Safe & Secure Living, Bullying etc)
- Information provided on Council's Website
- Development of logo
- Police - Party Safe information
- Drug Education Network - establishing communication with local security
- Drug Education Network - establishing communication with licensees regarding information stands, safe drinking practices etc
- Communication between local Police and Licensing Commission
- Local Security & local Police communication
- Local licensees and local Police communication
King Street Strategy
- Improved lighting
- No parking between certain hours
- Established taxi rank
- Improved access to transport services in the area
- Greater resources to King Street from Police - PORT
Improved Access to Transport
|
