European Crime Prevention Award - 2008 Competition

PREVENTION IN PUBLIC SPACES

CONFERENCE OF GOOD PRACTICES
AND
EUROPEAN CRIME PREVENTION AWARD

Security issues are at the heart of the concerns of citizens and local and national authorities. In this context, the prevention of criminality in the public spaces, especially urban or suburban, is a major issue that can be divided into three main components: the development planning of public spaces, the implementation of video protection systems and the daily actions of public space management.

France has chosen to study this theme for its chairmanship of the EUPCN and as a topic for the European Crime Prevention Award 2008 competition.

During the conference of good practices to be held in Paris on 17 and 18 November 2008, each of the three components will be the subject of a panel discussion and will be illustrated by one or two of the best projects in competition for the European Crime Prevention Award.

Development Planning of Public Spaces:

It is now well established that the design and renovation of urban developments should systematically incorporate objectives of crime prevention. Situational prevention in town planning should take into account the reality of insecurity and should respond by the best structural and technical measures to be certified. In France all important projects must incorporate these objectives.

The aim of the workshop on the development of public space is to make an assessment of the different theories and methods studied at the European level, to highlight the problems and possible abuses, and to consider future progress in this area.

To facilitate this workshop, we will have the support of:

• an academic, research director, who produced a study on this subject or on one of the main parties raised (theories, methods, progress possible);
• a representative of a local authority elected, academic, to discuss the gains and problems encountered;
• a representative of a state university to give an example of a general policy in this area and its application, and the results obtained;
• an elected national responsible development of urban renewal.

It would be advisable that some projects in competition for European prize focused on studies or applications on this field so that the best could come to illustrate the discussions.

Video protection:

Evolution of the concept of video surveillance, video protection allows for active surveillance and a rapid and appropriate response in case of problems. It is an important tool for crime prevention in high-risk areas, and is popular with both people and local officials.

Its development is a priority policy in France. It has to be accompanied by technological change to meet the different needs with costs more evenly distributed through networking and mutualisation.

The aim of the workshop on video protection will be to evaluate its effectiveness in terms of prevention, to discuss the legal problems it may pose or not with civil liberties, and to examine the conditions to link public, semi-public and private network systems.

To facilitate this workshop, we will have the support of:

• a representative from one state to give an example of a general policy in this area, its implementation and the results obtained;
• a researcher to present the future technological developments and expansion opportunities;
• a manager of a security company to submit an interesting implementation;
• a representative of a local authority elected to discuss ways implemented, problems encountered and the insertion of video with other devices prevention.

It would be advisable that some projects in competition for European prize focused on studies or applications on this field so that the best could come to illustrate the discussions.

Daily actions of public spaces management:

The prevention of crime in public spaces is also and especially the sum of management actions by a great variety of actors. These, belonging to different administrations, associations or to local initiatives and even simple citizens, bring an irreplaceable support to public peace and security.

The coordination of their actions to optimise the available means and direct the efforts to increase the efficiency is indisputably necessary. It can be steered and organized in various ways. It can also raise sometimes real problems in its conception as in its implementation.

The purpose of the workshop about the daily actions of public spaces management will be to describe, at the European level, the different actors and the main actions implemented, the means operated by authorities to favour a greater synergy as well as the problems met and the possibly adopted solutions.

To facilitate this workshop, we will have the support of:

• an elected local particularly involved in prevention efforts;
• a head of a local council prevention;
• an official of an association with an interesting project;
• a representative of an elected local authority to evoke the met problems;
• an executive director of a centre of cooperation in research and in the operational area between public and private sectors.

It would be advisable that some projects in competition for European prize focused on studies or applications on this field so the best could come to illustrate the discussions.

Projects must be submitted to the chairperson of the EUCPN via your National Representative on the entry form below, no later than 1 September 2008. The Project should be submitted in English; although a version in the Member State’s national language may also be attached.

Download an entry form, which must be submitted via your National Representative.