Community Safety

Bankstown Safety Expo

Useful Contact Numbers Bankstown Council                  9707 9999 For Emergencies Police, Fire, Ambulance                000 For Non Emergencies Crime Stoppers                    1800 333 000 Police Assistance Line              131 444 Bankstown Police Station        9783 2199 State Emergency Service (SES)  132 500 Community Planning & Development Community Safety & Crime Prevention Officer      9707 9471

Local government is the closest level of government to the community and actively takes a key role in ensuring community safety. The motto of the Bankstown Community Safety Committee, "Community Safety, Everybody's Business" reflects the Council's attitude towards community safety.

The Australian Institute of Criminology has stated that Local Government is increasingly seen to be a key player in the development and implementation of crime prevention programs at a community level. This is largely due to research that shows a great deal of crime is very local in nature. Local government is therefore well placed to co-ordinate and manage crime prevention responses across the community, and consequently there is increasing expectation from all sectors; individuals, businesses and State and Federal government, for Local government to assume responsibility for this task.

Crime prevention has been defined as the creation and implementation of proactive programs and strategies which are designed to prevent crime and address the fear of crime. This definition includes the total of all private initiatives and state policies, aimed at the reduction of damage caused by acts defined as criminal by the State. This suggests that crime prevention is not just the responsibility of the police and other law enforcement agencies, moreover it is the obligation of all levels of government, private companies and individuals themselves to actively promote programs and strategies that will prevent the occurrence of crime.

The Australian Institute of Criminology estimates that crime costs the Australian community up to $32 billion a year. This figure includes the expenditure on policing, the court system, prisons and the security industry. The figure also estimates the concealed costs of crime, including medical costs for victims, lost productivity, and intangible costs such as loss of quality of life. Crime and fear of crime can impact on what you do, where you live, how you travel, when you travel, who you are with, where and when you relax. In short, the effect of crime in the community can significantly impact your quality of life.

Safety Grants

Each year Council provides local community organisations an opportunity to apply for Council grants to fund community initiatives that focus on community safety and other social development projects. In 2007, Council provided organisations such as local Neighbourhood Watch groups, Bankstown Women's Health Centre and Bankstown Multicultural Youth Service with funding to implement community safety projects.

Local Committees and Working Parties

In addition to running educational projects and safety events, Council is represented on a number of local committees and working parties that have been formed to address community safety and crime prevention issues in the Bankstown Local Government Area. Some of these committees include the Bankstown Domestic Violence Liaison Committee, the Bankstown Community Drug Action Team, and the Villawood Safety Committee.

Bankstown Community Drug Action Team

The Bankstown CDAT is a group of local residents, government and non-government organisations working together to take action on drug - related concerns in their community.

The Bankstown CDAT:

• Identify drug - related problems in our local community
• Identify gaps or potential overlaps in local services which work on drug - related issues
• Work with organisations and other community members to meet community needs

Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch is a community crime prevention scheme where the public and the police work together to:

• Reduce violence, crime and fear in local communities
• Enhance effective communication between the public and police
• Develop community spirit and build a safer environment

Neighbourhood Watch distribute newsletters to the community with safety tips and local crime statistics. They meet regularly to discuss safety concerns and provide a forum for the police to receive valuable community information. Local meeting details:

• BK2  meets at Milperra Public School Library, 7:30pm on the 3rd Monday of the month
• BK3 meets at Hope Central Cafe, Chester Hill, 10:00am on the 2nd Monday of the month
• BK4 meets at Carolyn Chisholm School, Padstow, 7:30pm on the 1st Tuesday of the month
• BK9 meets at Padstow Progress Hall, 7:30pm on the 1st Tuesday of every second month
• BK10 meets at Condell Park Public School, 7:30pm on the 2nd Monday of every month
• BK11 meets at Walshaw Park Club House, 1:30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of every month
• BK12 meets at Picnic Point Bowling Club, 10am of the 2nd Thursday of every month
• BK13 meets at Panania East Hills RSL Club, 10:30am on the 3rd Tuesday of every month

For more information on Neighbourhood Watch in your local area contact the Crime Prevention Officer at Bankstown police on (02) 9783 2199.

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Each year the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research release reported crime statistics for all local government areas across the state.

Since 1999, crime statistics in the Bankstown Local Government Area have predominantly shown a downward trend. Bankstown has remained under the state average in most of the crime categories including assault, sexual assault, break and enter - dwelling, break and enter - non-dwelling, steal from person and malicious damage to property.

One of the greatest challenges for Bankstown is the community's high perception and fear of crime. Despite statistics indicating Bankstown has comparatively low levels of crime, surveys conducted with residents indicate high levels of fear of crime.

Find out more information from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.