What is Safe City?
Safe City is a community-based initiative to maximize safeness and minimize theft and other crimes. It is an ongoing safeness program that will build on partnership member's existing resources, connect neighbors, property management and others and possibly provide additional resources (e.g., radios, e-groups, etc.). The ownership and leadership of local law enforcement is the critical foundation and key to success for the Safe City program.
Where have Safe City projects been implemented?
Safe City projects in and around Downtown Minneapolis and Boston South Bay have been implemented with great success. Each project continues to serve as a model for learning and experimentation to improve the Safe City program. As a result of these successful projects, new Safe City approaches are taking hold across the country. For a full list of Safe City communities click here.
How much do technical components like CCTV cost?
Technical solutions are not a requirement in any Safe City project. The extent to which investments in cameras and other components are made is determined by the Safe City partners and will vary greatly from one site to the next.
What is required of Safe City Partners?
Each Safe City partner will bring different strengths and resources to the table, and all levels of partnership commitment are welcome. While tangible investments in technical solutions and other security components are an important element of the Safe City program, people remain the key factor to the program's success. With active, engaged, supportive retail and civic organizations behind Safe City, a clear message of safety and partnership will be conveyed to shoppers, visitors and area residents.
Who makes decisions about what the Safe City project will do and which efforts it will undertake?
Once implemented, local law enforcement will own and drive the activities of the Safe City project. Their day-to-day experience with crime trends and specific safeness challenges in the area will allow them to identify where the efforts of the Safe City partners will be most effective.
Why should other organizations become Safe City partners?
As businesses and civic organizations, we serve the communities where we are located. When those communities experience challenges to their safety and sense of security, our business suffers and the surrounding communities are faced with a difficult uphill battle to reclaim their sense of safeness. By engaging in the Safe City program, these organizations can be part of a community-building, business-friendly initiative to give back to the neighborhoods they serve.
How long does the Safe City project last?
The principles behind the Safe City program will become a sustaining part of the community. For businesses, it will be "business as usual." Once an increased level of safeness is achieved through the Safe City partnership, guests, associates and local residents will come to appreciate and depend on the results that Safe City provides. Partners are encouraged to remain actively engaged for as long as they are tenants in and around Safe City.
How can a smaller business with fewer resources participate in the Safe City project?
The foundation of Safe City is communication among partners and coordination with law enforcement, which is something you can do without adding any resources at all. Regular meetings of all Safe City partners, simple e-mail communication and casual interaction with neighboring tenants and local law enforcement go a long way toward creating a unified, informed coalition of Safe City partners. No specialized security resources or experience are necessary to be a valuable Safe City partner.