THE State Government has created a $1 million fund for local governments to assist in the development of new urban spaces or the alteration to existing areas.
Community Safety Minister Michelle Roberts said grants of up to $50,000 would be available to local governments to develop new urban spaces or alter existing areas in order to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, at the same time increasing local governments’ involvement in crime prevention and community safety.
“The concept of ‘designing out crime’ through environmental design is recognised around the world as an increasingly effective method to make communities safer,” she said. “Local governments now had the support they need to identify the most effective and sustainable strategies for developing safer spaces.”
The grants are available to upgrade lighting, signage or security, purchase specialist surveillance equipment and detection hardware.
“There are several successful crime design initiatives operating, such as the New Living Program, which has cut crime by 25 per cent in Koondoola, Balga, Girraween and Westminster during the past six years,” Ms Roberts said.
“There is no single solution to successfully prevent crime, but the combination of better designs, smarter and faster policing and tougher penalties is generating one of the most significant decreases in WA’s crime rate on record.
“The overall crime rate for WA has dropped by more than 8 per cent with the number of reported offences decreasing by more than 21,000 compared to the previous financial year.”