Have you ever thought that a security audit in the community is not only about security challenges and the current situation, but also about cooperation, joining forces, deepening cooperation between the authorities and the public?
We draw such conclusions in the process of conducting a security audit in the Minsk and Kulikiv communities, which are participants in the project "Detection, prevention and response to security challenges in territorial communities of the Chernihiv region", which is implemented by the NGO "Association for Democratic Development", and it is a component of the "Impulse" project, which is implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and the Eastern Europe Foundation.
Community security audit — is primarily a tool that helps create a safe space in cities, towns and villages through the joint work of the authorities, the police and the residents themselves. The main goal of — is to identify problems (from dark streets to spontaneous commerce and delinquency) and eliminate them before they lead to tragedy or increased crime. Specially created working groups in the Minsk City Council and the Kulikiv Settlement Council assess the security risks of public spaces, critical infrastructure, transport network, and social environment. What are the advantages of all parties involved in the audit of the territory in the community?
Residents get protected and comfortable streets where it is not scary to walk in the evening, and children can play safely on playgrounds. It is also important that community residents are involved in discussion and decision-making processes. Special attention is paid to vulnerable categories of local residents, primarily the gender-sensitive and inclusive needs of women and girls.
The head of the community and the local council have a clear plan where money from the budget should be directed as a matter of priority. For example, where to install lights or cameras, mobile shelters so that people can see real changes.
Police. Thanks to the joint work performed, law enforcement officers better understand the "problem points" of the community and can patrol the territory more effectively, preventing crimes.
Local business also benefits, as a safe region attracts investors and new buyers.
The material was prepared within the framework of the project "Empowerment of civil society for the stability and restoration of Ukraine ("Impulse")", implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation Міжнародний фонд "Відродження" together with the Eastern Europe Foundation Фонд Східна Європа funded by Norway (Norad) та Швеції (Sida).
