A project based approach to crime reduction

North Shore City Council has renewed its support of a community-based crime prevention initiative.

The council has agreed to continue with its leadership role in supporting the Safer Communities Programme, initiated and funded by the Crime Prevention Unit of the Justice Department.

North Shore City Council's community services and parks committee chairperson, Margaret Miles, says the council's support, consisting of management and co-ordination, will continue at the same level as last year - $8000.

"However, we'll negotiate the Crime Prevention Unit funding agreements three-yearly rather than one-yearly to reduce compliance costs and make the money go further," Councillor Miles says.

The Safer Communities Programme is run by local authorities in conjunction with the Crime Prevention Unit, and enables councils to contract out suitable crime prevention programmes.

Margaret Miles says last year the national programme was reviewed to see whether it would be effective for the next ten years.

"While the review found that some council programmes were "languishing" for want of initiative and funding, North Shore City's programmes have been well run and successful in helping reduce crime in the city.

"An example is the youth offending project or Te Roopu O Wai Ora which brings together a wide range of organisations to provide guidance, sporting and social opportunities and entertainment venues and events for the city's young people."

The review supported the way North Shore City has been administering the programme, which is to work on projects that bring the relevant agencies together.

"We have been concentrating on community-based projects, and have had success with a programme that aims to bring agencies together to communicate, to organise and to deliver these programmes.

"A Memorandum of Understanding will be developed in conjunction with the Police to identify the issues that have a bearing on our crime rate, and we can then ensure that funding is channelled properly to the right programmes," says Councillor Miles.

© Scoop Media