Community Safety

We Live Our Lives Safe From Crime, Disorder and Danger

What is Community Safety?

Protecting people’s rights to live in confidence & without fear of their or other people’s safety, ensuring that people are safe from crime, disorder, danger and free from injury and harm; and communities are socially cohesive and tolerant; are resilient; and have strong networks that support individuals to take responsibility for their wellbeing.

What are the Community Safety objectives for the Highlands?

Building and supporting safe, successful communities remains a key priority for the Highland Council and the Highland Public Services Partnership. In the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) all the Partners seek to improve community safety across Highlands.

The purpose of the SOA is to identify areas for improvement and to deliver better outcomes for the people of the Highlands and Scotland, through specific commitments made by the Council, its community planning partners and the Scottish Government. 15 local outcomes have been agreed by the Highland Public Services Partnership based on the needs and issues identified in the Area profile. These are cast against the 15 national outcomes.

Amongst the 15 national outcomes there are few which directly relates to the community safety. They are - National Outcomes 9: We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger; National Outcome 4: Our Young People are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens; National Outcome 5: Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed; National Outcome 6: We live longer, healthier lives; National Outcome 11: We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.
As part of this national commitment the Highland Public Services Partnership decided to contribute to these National Outcomes by tackling such issues like:

People are, and feel safe from crime, disorder and danger
Attitudes and behaviours towards alcohol and other drugs are changed and those in need are supported by better prevention and treatment services
Our communities take a greater role in shaping their future

The first Performance Report on the SOA (PDF) provided good evidence of the excellent progress being made in Highland to Contribute to achieving not only the national outcomes but the local outcomes set within SOA 1 for community safety.

The community safety partners recognise that no agency can achieve these SOA outcomes alone, therefore a major feature of this is partnership working. The Joint Highland Community Safety Tasking Group (referred to as the JHCSTG or Tasking Group) has been formed to deal with community safety issues and wider anti social behaviour at the strategic level. The Group meets on a monthly basis and is attended by representatives from The Highland Council, Northern Constabulary, NHS Highland, Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service and Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership. The Group discuss community safety issues brought to their attention and act on these issues by prioritising and resourcing the response. In addition the Tasking Group promotes public reassurance and engage with media on different aspects of community safety.

How can I report a Community Safety issue?

If you are concerned about any aspect of community safety in your local area and would like to raise this issue with local Police, Fire Officers or other agency, please use one of the available reporting options including:

Report the issue to your local Ward Manager - Ward Managers contact information
Raise the issue at the Ward Forum or Community Council meeting – Ward Forum meeting dates and locations
Complete the Community Safety Reporting Form. Your enquiry will be forwarded to the Community Safety Officer who depending on the nature of the issue will pass your enquiry to the relevant Ward Manager, Police, Fire Service or other agency if required. Applicable person will respond to your enquiry and contact you in relation to the issues raised. Community Safety Reporting Form.

Any issues that cannot be resolved locally will be discussed by the Joint Highland Community Safety Tasking Group formed to deal with community safety issues and wider anti social behaviour at the strategic level.