Projects and InitiativesThis following section contains descriptions of some recent projects and initiatives involving public-private partnerships. It illustrates a number of different ways in which business and commerce have become involved in crime prevention. These include: providing financial support to community organizations developing prevention initiatives, developing their own activities or planning events related to prevention, providing human resources or goods and services in support of prevention initiatives and creating internships for young people in the municipality, especiallly those from disadvantaged neighbourhoods, or who have been in conflict with the law.
Nightravens
Norway
 Developed by a Swedish insurance company in the early 1990’s in Norway, the Nightravens program involves volunteer adults who are seen as attractive role models by children and youth in their community. In many communities they (Nightravens) work in cooperation with voluntary organizations, local authorities and the police service. The main aim of the nightraven program is to increase a sense of security, particularly for children and teenagers, and thus indirectly prevent violence vandalism and petty crime, simply through being visible- by moving around in public places at times and places which benefit youth. It is important to point out that nightravens are not security guards, and are not to intervene in disturbance should they arise, but observe and provide help if needed by children or youth .
Nightravens are offered courses on the ethics, skills, and knowledge which will help guide them in their work on the street, and are also given information on social and educational services, and police prevention programs in their neighbourhood.
In 2004, there were over 370 nightraven groups operating in Norway, and approximately 300 000 volunteers are, or have been participating in this program.
Nightravens is funded by local business, the nightravens council and Vesta Insurance.
San Romanoway: Cultural Social Enrichment Program
Toronto, Canada
San Romanoway is a neighbourhood in the Jane-Finch community of Toronto, Canada. The neighbourhood is a 4000-residence complex, more than half of which are children and youth. San Romanoway has a high level of new immigrant residents, high youth unemployment, and a recent rise in youth related crime. In addition, the area faces a series of urban challenges, including gang-related violence, poverty, interracial tensions, and crime.
To combat these challenges, the San Romanoway Revitalization Association launched the Cultural Social Enrichment Program in July 2002. The program is comprised of a partnership between community and business leaders, academics, property owners, police, youth, and residents. These stakeholders work together to develop and implement solutions to the problems that impede community revitalization. Some solutions utilize environmental design principles, such as improved outdoor lighting and landscaping, whereas others use social development strategies. Programs have been instituted which assist youth by identifying and resolving at-risk behaviours in the early stages. These programs include: police partnership projects, employment and job skills training, self esteem programs, anger management and conflict resolution, as well as after-school activities.
The Cultural Social Enrichment Program receives $300 000 funding over three years from the Business Action Program of the Government of Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy. The program is administered by the Business Network on Crime Prevention. More information. Youth.com
North York, Ontario, Canada
 The objective of the Youth.com project is to raise the awareness of at-risk youth of what it takes to be self-sufficient through employment, and what job options and planning methods exist for the new economy. Sponsored by Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI), this project is being brought to youth in 12 communities across Canada, including Regina. In addition to funding under the National Crime Prevention's Business Action Program, SEDI has also partnered with the Royal Bank of Canada to build on the success and lessons learned from earlier phases.
Youth.com is a three-year initiative that will build on past successes of working with at-risk youth in the New Economy Awareness for Youth Strategy. As well as its efforts to enhance the involvement of the private sector beyond the planning, delivery and mentorship components of youth.com, the organization will act as champions/catalysts in local youth self-sufficiency issues.
Prudential 4 Youth programme
United KingdomThis programme seeks to engage and empower young people as partners in crime prevention and community safety projects through active citizenship. The programme attempts to involve youth as part of solutions, as opposed to viewing them as a problem population. In 1993, Prudential established Youth Action Groups to involve youth in community safety issues. As the programme evolved, the Youth Action Group approach was integrated into every partnership strategy and eventually became the Youth Action Shopping Centre Programme, which took action against theft and retail crime. These efforts culminated in the Prudential 4 Youth programme in 2003. Following a pilot phase (with five locations), Prudential 4 Youth will be extended to a further fifteen locations across the UK. It aims to bring together young people, town and city centre staff and community safety practitioners to examine a wider community safety agenda and work collectively to divert young people from criminality and social exclusion.
For more information, contact:
Norman Lloyd
National Programme Manager
Crime Concern
Beaver House
147-150 Victoria Road
Swindon SN1 3BU
Tel. 01844 292944
NCP, Australia
The impetus to the Small Business against Crime project was a survey conducted in 1999 by the AIC, in collaboration with the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia, of Australian small businesses. Of the 3,834 small retail businesses included in the final sample, almost half reported having experienced some type of crime during the previous year. The most common crimes experienced were burglary (experienced by 27% of retailers), shoplifting (experienced by 21%), vandalism (18%), and cheque/credit card fraud (10%). The survey also indicated substantial repeat victimization within the retail sector, with some businesses victimized more frequently than others, particularly in liquor outlets, pharmacies and service stations.
As a result of these findings the AIC, with funding from the National Crime Prevention Program, developed the Small Business against Crime project, in hopes of further investigating crime against small businesses and identifying possible preventive strategies.
The Project will investigate the nature and extent of crime problems experienced by small businesses and identification of potential interventions.
For more information, contact: Natalie Taylor Small Business Against Crime project
Australian Institute of Criminology
GPO Box 2944
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: (02) 6260 9254
Fax: (02) 6260 9201
Email: natalie.taylor@aic.gov.auNRMA Insurance, CrimeSafe Grants Program
Australia
For 75 years NRMA Insurance has been actively involved in a wide variety of community programs and projects. Their contribution involves supporting programs that help build a safer community for Australians. Through their prevention strategy, they focus on reducing risk. The strategy has been broken down into three areas: Crime Prevention, Injury Prevention and Emergency Rescue Services. In reference to crime prevention, NRMA offers support and advice in the following areas:
- Prevention - programs to encourage a reduction in crime through intervention, at risk youth activities, life skills programs and alliances with key organisations
- Education - programs to educate the public on protecting themselves and their property
- Victims - Supporting those affected by crime
Through its CrimeSafe Grants, NRMA has traditionally supported local community crime prevention projects that tackle the social factors contributing to crime and delinquency. In 2004, their CrimeSafe Grants program became part of the communityhelp Grants program- a one-off grants program that helps to support community organisations involved in crime prevention and which work to create sustainable communities. For more information, contact:
Sponsorship & Community Relations Manager
NRMA Insurance communityhelp Grants program
Level 6, 388 George Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
Phone: 02 9292 9636
Fax: 02 9292 806
Please Note: A case study on NRMA's support of community safety initiatives, from its initial focus on situational crime prevention to a much broader focus on crime prevention through social development is provided below.
Miller, M., Brown, D. (1992). 'Corporate Involvement in Community Safety`. In Biles, D. & Vernon, J. (eds.) Private Sector and Community Involvement in the Criminal Justice System: Proceedings of a conference held 30 November - 2 December 1992, Wellington, New Zealand. Also-Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 1994 (AIC Conference Proceedings; no. 23). Available here.
Business Against Crime (BAC)
South Africa
 BAC supports a number of targeted project initiatives which cover three main areas: strategy, policy and priority determination, system and process improvements, and project implementation.
Some specific project initiatives include:
Video Surveillance Program- aims to reduce on-street crime in high density areas and to supplement the effectiveness of visible policing. The program operates in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, local government and municipalities. Outcomes include a reduction of street crime (up to 80%) and reduction of the number of police required to patrol areas (by 90%). The programme successfully started in Cape town, and is now being delivered in Johannesburg.
Service Delivery Improvement Programme- It aims to improve service in police stations, including victim support and counselling and support partnerships with police stations. To date, 68 partnerships have been established in five provinces. BAC has supported the development of training programmes addressing competency mapping, telephone skills, customer care, communication and station management.
Tiisa Thuto- is a school-based crime prevention program managed by BAC for pupils, teachers, parents and communities in the same schools. It combines the expertise of police, education, community police forums and organizations specializing in sports, mediation and conflict resolution, peer counseling, trauma and abuse, and victim issues. Each partner provides its specific skills-training, resources and modules. The CSVR for example, trains parents, teachers and school governors in trauma management, provides peer counseling, and helps develop school safety teams. The project structure includes conflict resolution, trauma management, school safety committees, HIV/Aids sexuality, leadership, resourcing and management, teacher empowerment and mentorship programmes. Some outcomes of the program include improved parent-teacher-child relations, better teacher support, and a swifter response to children’s needs. To date, Tissa Thuto has been implemented in 500 schools in three provinces (BAC 2003).
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)
Approaching 10 Years of Partnership with the Ministry of Public Security of Quebec
For about ten years, the Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Ministry of Public Security of Quebec (MSP) have co-supported community projects in crime prevention that tackle specific problems such as vandalism, graffiti, and burglary, etc.
Some of the main projects and tools funded include:
· Thematic posters for Crime Prevention Week (distributed by the MPSQ);
· Financial contribution to Quebec’s Crime Prevention Week Conference
· Bon voisin bon œil program (Good Neighbour, Watchful Eye) by Quebec Security;
· Brisons le vandalisme program- (Let’s Tackle Vandalism) within several communities;
· Les jeunes la nuit program (Youth and the Night) in the City of Maniwaki;
· Project Evaluation Guide, to determine their financial viability.
Further information on these initiatives can be found at: www.msp.gouv.qc.ca
In addition, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, in cooperation with the Groupement des assureurs automobiles, has also managed a public awareness campaign on auto theft, using several methods such as distributing courtesy tickets, and installing signage in high-theft areas (eg. shopping centre parking lots). |
