Cookstown District Council

Living in Cookstown

Community Services Unit

Community Safety Partnership

What is Community Safety?

Community Safety seeks to reduce crime, the fear of crime, anti-social behaviour and other factors that affect perceptions of safety and as a consequence quality of life.It is about delivering local solutions to local problems

Background

In 2004 Cookstown District Council agreed to spearhead local efforts towards the establishment of a local partnership made up of elected representatives, professional officers from statutory and voluntary bodies and other relevant agencies as well as the community sector.  The Partnership carried out a comprehensive audit of crime within the district which encouragingly demonstrated that relative to other areas Cookstown district experienced low levels of crime and indeed is a relatively safe place to live, work and visit.However the audit highlighted four key areas of crime which clearly requires specific attention by the community safety partnership and have been included in our local community safety strategy. these are:-

Offences against individuals, particularly domestic violence and sexual assaultYouth offending and reducing criminalityDrug, substance and alcohol abuseAnti-social behaviour and low level neighbourhood disorderCookstown Community Safety Partnership has also drawn up an action plan for 2006 –2008.Through this action plan the following projects have been funded to help address the high priority issues detailed aboveAction Plan 2006-2008§Neighbourhood Officer§Multi-lingual Booklet – ‘At Home in Cookstown’§Midnight Soccer§Keep Cool Stay Clear§Nightlight§What A Risk§Home Security§Substance Abuse Guide§Keep Safe Keep Well§Awareness Raising Officer – Domestic Violence§Information Ads.

We aim to make Cookstown and District a healthy, inclusive, prosperous and safe environment for all who reside, work and visit the area.

We will deliver innovative approaches to improve safety and the well-being of everyone in the district, helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

We have developed an Action Plan to help bring about an inclusive district, free from crime and the fear of crime.  Some initiatives include:

A support forum to assist migrant workers

An information service for teenagers to discourage alcohol abuse

Advice for the elderly and vulnerable on personal safety in the home.

Investigating the provision of lighting in poorly lit areas.