|
Policies and initiatives
> Direction 5. A great place to be
> Policy 5.3
Policy 5.3 – Improve community safety and
encourage neighbourhood design that makes people feel safe
Concerns about safety may restrict people’s
mobility and levels of activity and may exclude them from some places,
particularly at night. Such concerns can lead to loss of independence,
isolation or constraint on some activities.
The perception of safety can have as great an impact
on people’s lives as do actual levels of safety or crime. Different
groups may feel more vulnerable than others, making safety an important
equity issue. All people should be safe, and they should feel safe
(see ‘Community safety’).
The Government is implementing a number of initiatives
related to community safety. The recently launched ‘Safer Streets
and Homes’ strategy sets out how government and community initiatives
can mesh to help people feel confident about their safety. It acknowledges
that the built environment can make a considerable contribution
to safety and perceptions of safety, through the design of buildings
and public spaces and the mix of activities therein. Provision will
be made in activity centres for suitable locations for police stations
and fire brigade, ambulance and emergency services. In newly developing
areas, these services will be located together. Public safety and
perceptions of safety will be considered when developing or amending
planning provisions, structure plans and urban design guidelines,
criteria and standards.
Melbourne 2030 is committed to improving public
safety in all circumstances. As perceptions of safety have an influence
on travel choice, the Strategy takes an integrated approach to travel
safety. Addressing safety concerns is fundamental to achieving the
objective of increased public transport usage, walking and cycling.
Current traffic conditions make travel by car seem a safer option
than walking and cycling in terms of personal injury. Many people
feel unsafe travelling on public transport and getting to and from
it. Initiatives undertaken will provide safer walking and cycling
routes and improve safety for people accessing and using public
transport.
Initiatives
| 5.3.1 |
Set up programs to improve the safety and security
of people in public places and while using public transport,
walking or cycling |
| 5.3.2 |
Establish an interagency forum to improve community
safety through the application of urban design principles |
| 5.3.3 |
Locate police, fire, ambulance and other emergency
services in or near activity centres to enable stronger linkages
and faster action in emergencies |
| 5.3.4 |
Implement community policing programs, linking
them to community building partnerships and programs that address
the causes of crime |
| 5.3.5 |
Include ‘safer design’ guidelines
and principles in the planning system to improve perceptions
of safety and reduce the occurrence of crime and violence in
built environments |
|
Community safety
The Government’s new Crime Prevention Victoria agency
works closely with communities to identify crime hot spots
and formulate effective crime prevention strategies.
The Justice portfolio and its agencies, including
Victoria Police, Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services,
the Country Fire Authority and the Victoria State Emergency
Service, play a key role in contributing to the community
being safe and feeling confident about its safety.
Victoria’s emergency service organisations
strongly value the development of partner-ships with local
communities, local government and other government agencies
that emphasise:
- preventing and reducing crime and violence
- minimising personal injury in the home, at work, or at
leisure
- managing emergencies when they arise.
- working in partnership with business, local government
and the community to prevent and mitigate emergency incidents.
|
|
