Safer towns project identifies key concerns

Public space and young people, the media and fear of crime and the visibility of drug usage are the key areas addressed in a progress report on the Peninsula's Safer Towns and Cities project.

The NSW Attorney General's Department Crime Prevention Division funded the pilot project, which is being undertaken by Gosford Council.

Cr Daniel Cook told a recent council meeting he was pleased with the report's findings, saying the Safer Towns committee should be congratulated.

"I congratulate the committee for developing a safer community," he said.

"The report brings together a wide range of strategies and I think the benefits will be long-lasting.

"It's very comprehensive."

Cr Lynne Bockholt said some youth she met at the Web were able to give her an insight into how they felt about crime.

"Young people are scared too," she said.

The project's committee consulted with community groups and identified 15 safety issues.

The issues were grouped into three key areas.

One of the areas was public space usage and young people.

The committee said this area included anti-social behaviour in shopping centres and the design and use of public spaces.

Another key area was media perceptions of crime and the community's fear of crime.

The committee said there was a perception that young people were the perpetuators of crime, that older people were the victims, and that media influenced these perceptions.

The final area involved the increase in the visibility of drug usage in public places.

The committee comprises councillors, members from the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the Web, Women's Health, police and community delegates.

Any initiatives outlined in the Peninsula pilot's plan will be monitored and evaluated and then implemented into a Gosford City-wide plan later this year.

The committee said in their report that their focus was preventative strategies. They intend to foster a coordinated approach between government and non-government agencies and community groups to encourage a local community where people feel safe.

The committee discerned some of the concerns of youth from preliminary talks.

"Upon talking to a group of young people that 'hang out' at shopping centres, the youth outlined concerns about not having anywhere to go and did not like being told that they had to move on," said the draft report.

They said it was a good place to meet and showed concern when informed that older people felt unsafe using the shopping centre because of their presence.

They also identified a lack of affordable transport as a problem when finding places to meet.

Youth also felt unsafe in areas with poor lighting.

With regard to media perceptions and fear of crime, the draft report said: "Anecdotal evidence suggests that the fear of crime that older people experience keeps them isolated as they do not want to leave their home.

"Alongside of this issue is the perception of young people as the perpetrators of crime and older people as the victims.

"The reasoning behind these perceptions link to the visibility of young people on the streets."

The report also said many crimes by youth such as graffiti, are more visible than hidden crimes.

"Young people said they also felt unsafe and that they were being blamed for things that they were not doing," the report said.

"The committee firmly believes that perceptions of crime are influenced by media reports and concerns were raised about the number of bad news stories reported in the local papers.

"More positive coverage of local activities is needed.

"The committee drew experiences from the Peninsula Community Forum regarding the linkages they have established with the local paper (Peninsula News) to gain positive coverage of a range of issues."

In relation to the key area of drug and alcohol-related issues, the draft report said the exact use of drugs and alcohol was unknown and currently being monitored.

Some of the strategies of the project included: establish a Peninsula youth advisory group that could act as a voice for young people; seek opportunities to revitalise the usage of public spaces; establish "safe routes" to key public spaces for seniors, and; lobby for cheaper transport for youth.

The committee also wanted to support local community programs such as Neighbourhood Watch and to seek support for the development of a Peninsula liquor accord.

Cr Cook said he would like a further report on the project to Council's strategy policy meeting as soon as possible.

Carl Spears, July 12