Community safety

Working to reduce crime and disorder

Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires that:

"Each local authority should take account of the community safety dimension in all of its work. All policies, strategies, plans and budgets will need to be considered from the standpoint of their potential contribution to the reduction of crime and disorder."

The Crime and Disorder Act legislation is intended to improve both community safety and the youth justice system. Under the Act, West Mercia Constabulary and Shropshire's local authorities must work together to implement a strategy for:

Reducing crime
Reducing fear of crime
Reducing anti-social behaviour

To achieve this local authorities should consider the following:

• local authorities will need to demonstrate that they are considering the crime and disorder implications of all their activities, in particular when making decisions about policies and services.
• strategies and policies should be in place to identify and reduce the risks of crime to staff, local communities and property.
• staff should be supported to develop the knowledge and skills they need to identify opportunities for improving community safety and minimising risks.
• commitment to community safety should be incorporated into job descriptions.
• community safety should be built into public consultation exercises.
• clear responsibilities and reporting procedures for key initiatives should be defined.
• community safety should be built into the Community Plan and other plans.
• improving community safety should be adopted as a corporate objective.
• all councillors and staff should know what community safety is about and how they can help to achieve it.
• safe and secure working environment should reflect the commitment to community safety.
• a clear and targeted communication strategy should be developed.
• joint-working with other organisations.

At Shropshire County Council we are delivering a programme of training for members and officers raising awareness of our responsibilities under section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.