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Community Safety Committee

Overview and proceedings

The Community Safety Committee was originally called the Street Prostitution Committee and was initially formed to resolve street prostitution problems along Canterbury Road.

The Committee has broadened its focus and its aims to prevent crime and promote community safety. The Committee researches and monitors trends in local crime, develops partnerships and supports local initiatives to address priority crime issues. It is made up of Councillors, Police, Fire Brigade, Drug Action Team representatives, Council staff and representatives from various community groups as required.

The Committee also makes recommendations to the State Government for legislative changes to prevent or reduce crime and to reduce the fear of crime in the community.

Schedule and minutes

Click on the meeting date to read/download meeting minutes. For printing purposes, the PDF version gives the best results, but you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader. This may already be installed on your computer or you may download it free.

More about the committee

Co-ordination

We liaise with key stakeholders such as police, businesses and the local community to work co-operatively to prevent crime. In this way, the role of each stakeholder is enhanced to achieve common objectives.

Research and consultation

We research and monitor the incidence and trends in crime, and consult with the community so that efforts to reduce crime can be effectively targeted.

Evaluation and planning

We undertake safety audits of priority public sites. We develop action plans to prevent crime through improved environmental design and other community initiatives. We promote the use of environmental planning powers to prevent crime.

Program development

We develop a broad range of preventative measures to curb crime in Canterbury including the provision and funding of positive activities for groups at risk of becoming involved in crime.

Facility development

We identify specific crime prone areas and develop safe street and building design features; recommending to Council and other appropriate bodies suitable facility improvements to prevent crime.

Advocacy

We utilise media and lobby appropriate levels of government for the allocation of resources required to reduce the occurrence of crime including adequate police numbers, and community services that focus on crime prevention.

Information

We raise awareness about community initiatives to reduce crime and ways of reducing the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

Key issues addressed by the Community Safety Committee

Domestic violence

• We develop partnerships with local women's and child protection services in the area through the Domestic Violence Liaison Committee.
• We support a range of anti-violence campaigns in the community.
• We have increased Council funding to domestic violence education programs.
• We have worked with police to increase understanding and use of AVO's by victims of domestic violence.

Neighbourhood improvements

• We conduct safety audits, targeting specific neighbourhood problem areas.
• We co-ordinate with police, residents and business, holistic programs to address crime.
• We have improved lighting and security at parks and streetscapes, co-ordinated with police activities and funding for youth programs.

Development control

• We instigated a Development Control Plan and guidelines for future building development to promote the concept of Safer Design and encourage community safety.
• We have developed a protocol to ensure police concerns are addressed in future developments.

Police resources and facilities

• We made successful representations on operational facilities and staffing for police.
• We fund police resources that have directly reduced crime.

Resource allocation and funding

• We have secured funding from private and government organisations for crime prevention.
• We initiated Council allocating funds for lighting and infrastructure improvements in specific locations.
• Council allocates $50,000 per year as part of its ongoing commitment to Community Safety initiatives.

Personal safety and property theft

• We developed resident information pamphlets to address theft around the home and personal safety in the community.
• We work with business and the police to tackle car theft in major shopping centres in our city.
• For further information contact Council's Community Safety Officer on 9789 9549.