We Live Our Lives Safe From Crime, Disorder and Danger

What is Community Safety?

Community Safety is the protection of everyone’s right to live without fear for their own and other people’s safety. It applies to a broad range of issues that can affect the quality of life in Highland.

The Highlands of Scotland has long held a reputation for not only having outstanding beauty across the area, but also being unparalleled in the safety of its communities.

Whilst we do live in secure and safe communities, we must recognise that there is still room for improvement to make Highlands as safe as possible for everyone. 

Building and supporting safe, successful communities remains a key priority for the Highland Council. With the introduction of the Single Outcome Agreement, and in pursuit of this objective, the Highland Council together with its Community Planning Partners and Scottish Government seeks to improve community safety across Highlands.

Single Outcome Agreement

The Single Outcome Agreement (PDF) is a concordat between Scottish Government and local authorities and it sets out how the Council and its community planning partners will address the 15 national outcomes, detailing what can be expected locally. The first Single Outcome Agreement for the Highland Council was launched at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gealic College in Sleat, Skye in August 2008.

While a range of national outcomes are relevant to the community safety, national outcomes 9 (We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger) and 11 (We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others) are of particular importance. As part of this national commitment community safety partners decided to contribute to national outcomes 9 and 11 by tackling such issues like:

• Reduce of crime and fear of crime;
• Reduce problematic alcohol misuse;
• Reduce problematic drug misuse;
• Reduce reconviction rates and levels of repeat victimisation;
• Improved levels of safe driving

The community safety partners recognise that no agency can achieve this alone, therefore a major feature of this is partnership working. The Joint Highland Community Safety Tasking Group has been formed to deliver and monitor the Community Safety Outcomes contained within the Single Outcome Agreement between Highland Council in association with several Community Planning Partners and Scottish Government. Membership includes representatives of The Highland Council, Northern Constabulary, NHS Highland, Highlands & Islands Fire & Rescue Service and Highland Drug and Alcohol Team who meet on a monthly basis.

Contacts

The Community Safety Unit is based in the Chief Executive’s Office. If you would like to know more about community safety in Highland please contact the Community Safety Officer on 01463 70 2246. To progress the Single Outcome Agreement and community safety outcomes at the local level contact your Ward Manager or attend the Ward Forum.