One outcome of Armidale’s ‘Building the Future’ Forum, in 1997, was that community safety is a major concern for many people. As a result, an extensive campaign to improve public safety commenced.
A public meeting attracted over 150 people and culminated in the development of a Crime Prevention Plan. Four major areas of concern were identified. These included family violence, the incidence of breaking and entering, malicious damage and anti social behaviour.
Manager Community Services Annaliese Strietman said the view was taken that crime prevention required a community approach. “There must be a commitment from all parties,” she said. “Everyone needs to be involved not just Council, the police or schools.”
She explained one source of property damage was arising from youths skylarking with supermarket trolleys. “If others in the community did not leave them on the streets in the first place this could not occur,” she said. Under the Crime Prevention Plan, a stray trolley control program is now in place.
Long, short and medium term strategies have been developed to manage perceived problem areas. Long term strategies include a Family Mediation Service and the provision of urban arts spaces.
Medium term strategies include a Youth Drop in Centre and Liquor Accord. This Accord prevents people moving between venues after 12.30 am, when incidents of vandalism and anti social behaviour often occur.
People can stay in licensed venues until 3am but if they leave after 12.30am they cannot be admitted at any other venue. Venue owners have been very supportive of this initiative.
Short term strategies include the Foot Patrol, which aims to get young people home safely, and a graffiti reduction program
“Media hype can contribute to problems by overstating the incidence of crime and causing unnecessary alarm and suspicion,” Annaliese Strietman said. “However this program operates on the principle that people have a right to feel safe wherever they are.”
