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Councils key to community-based crime prevention

Councils key to community-based crime prevention
By Lilia Guan

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has released a technical and background paper on ‘Model Performance Framework for Community Based Crime Prevention’.
 
The paper looks at a number of performance frameworks to help crime prevention organisations, communities and local governments measure the implementation of crime prevention programs.
 
According to the AIC, examining the performance of a preventative crime program will help identify problems that may impact on the effectiveness of the initiative.
 
The framework was developed in conjunction with the West Australian Office of Crime Prevention and uses International and Australian standards of performance measurement.

Anthony Morgan, research analyst, crime reduction and review program – Australian Institute of Criminology, told Government News the performance framework was originally developed for a crime prevention program in WA that supported local government to develop and implement crime prevention plans in partnership with a range of stakeholders.
 
Mr Morgan said local government was a “key player in community-based crime prevention”.
 
“Councils are responsible for a range of services related to crime prevention, including managing public space and building design, providing community recreational services and developing policies that affect local businesses,” he said.
 
“They’re often involved in developing and implementing a range of crime prevention initiatives, frequently in partnership with other stakeholders such as police and non-government organisations.”
 
The partnership could include a range of measures, such as: helping to raise awareness among residents of personal and household security measures; improving street lighting and ensuring that consideration is given to the impact of urban planning and new developments on community safety; and delivering community events and cultural programs to help build a sense of community.
 
“They’re also a lead agency in the development of local crime prevention plans, which identify and prioritise concerns about community safety and crime prevention in a local government area, identify key action areas and responsibility for these actions,” Mr Morgan said.
 
 
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