Aussie Experience: Local Government Community Safety Officers and Capacity Building

The authors discuss trends in crime prevention and community safety particular to Australia. They report on research examining the role local government Community Safety Officers (CSOs) play in the formation and implementation of crime prevention strategies in their home state of Victoria. The paper is based upon interview data conducted with CSOs and will assess key challenges and problems encountered in the management and implementation of strategies at the local level. Issues assessed include the role of community safety practitioners as 'change managers'. Broader lessons relating to training, capacity building and strengthening the role of local government are drawn from the research that are of relevance to community safety policy in the UK and abroad