Building Stronger Communities Through Safety and Crime Reduction Strategies

What Is Community Safety?

Community safety is a collaborative approach to preventing crime and promoting well-being within local areas. The concept was first introduced in the Morgan Report, which emphasized a holistic, community-centered strategy for tackling crime. This idea was formally embedded into UK legislation through the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which placed a legal duty on key public agencies to work together—not just the police—to enhance safety and reduce crime.

While terms like “community safety” and “safer communities” are often used interchangeably, “safer communities” typically reflects broader social ambitions. In Wales, for example, the Working Together for Safer Communities Review 2017 by the Welsh Government set a vision of resilient and inclusive communities. According to this vision, safer communities are places where everyone has equal opportunities, social justice is upheld, and collective resilience and sustainability thrive.

Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs)

Established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) consist of representatives from multiple sectors including:

• Police
• Local authorities
• Fire and rescue services
• Health services
• Probation services

These organizations—referred to as “responsible authorities”—collaborate to identify local priorities and implement strategies to address them. In Wales, some of these responsibilities are devolved, giving Welsh Ministers the authority to set certain policy requirements independently or in partnership with the Secretary of State.

Local government and police forces jointly lead community safety initiatives. Designated local authority staff oversee the administration of CSPs, ensuring that local insights, professional expertise, and resources are integrated to tackle the most pressing concerns in each area.

CSPs are legally required to deliver on a range of responsibilities, including:

• Facilitating information sharing to support local problem-solving
• Conducting strategic assessments to inform safety planning
• Reducing reoffending and recidivism
• Commissioning domestic homicide reviews (under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004)

Areas of Work in Community Safety

Since their inception, CSPs have evolved alongside new legislation and policy frameworks. The introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 created stronger links between community safety and the criminal justice system.

Another key development was the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which established Public Service Boards (PSBs). PSBs are required to perform local well-being assessments and develop strategic plans, aligning closely with the work of CSPs. This integration promotes more coherent community safety and crime reduction outcomes.

CSPs are involved in a wide range of initiatives, including:

Core Responsibilities:

• Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and public disorder
• Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV)
• Terrorism and Extremism prevention
• Substance Misuse interventions
• General crime prevention activities

Additional Priority Areas (based on local needs):

• Serious Violence and Organised Crime
• Public Safety initiatives
• Modern Slavery and Human Exploitation

CSPs also contribute to wider, interconnected areas of community resilience and justice, such as:

• Safeguarding and early intervention for at-risk individuals
• Youth justice and rehabilitation efforts
• Integrated Offender Management (IOM)
• Promoting equality, inclusion, and community cohesion

The Role of Collaboration in Crime Reduction

Community safety and crime reduction require effective collaboration across local, regional, and national levels. Multi-agency cooperation ensures that issues are addressed from every angle—law enforcement, social services, healthcare, education, and community development.

By working in unison, CSPs can identify root causes of crime, respond swiftly to emerging threats, and implement long-term strategies that improve safety and foster trust within communities.