Security
Safety
Measuring a liveable city is always a chart stopper, and security is one of the measures that assists a city in achieving this ultimate award. We see our major cities of Australia eagerly accepting the anointment as a safe city, as the benefits can be measured in growth, investment, and tourism and for the residents, health and happiness. The Economist Int elligence Unit1, part of the Worldwide Cost of Living survey, surveyed cities based on 30 factors such as healthcare, culture and environment, and education and personal safety. The top 10 most liveable cities of the 140 cities surveyed, as ranked by The Economist Intelligence Unit in 2010 were: 1. Vancouver, Canada 2. Melbourne, Australia 3. Vienna, Austria 4. Toronto, Canada 5. Calgary, Canada 6. Helsinki, Finland 7. Sydney, Australia 8. (equal) Perth, Australia 8. (equal) Adelaide, Australia 10. Auckland, New Zealand The ranking scored each city from 0-100 on 30 factors spread across five areas: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. These numbers were then weighted and combined to produce an overall figure. Having four Australian cities in the top 10 is a testament to the Australian ‘way of life’, however to maintain such a privileged status, cities must continue to keep up the fight in all areas forming the basis of the assessment. Security underpins each of the five reviewed and scored areas of stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. A surprise to many in the international arena, the liveable rankings placed London at 54 and New York at 56, however a different survey2 with a focus of the greatest city (a city with a ‘buzz’), placed London and New York as the two greatest cities in the world. Of note Sydney achieved equal 9th of the 75 cities surveyed. When we compare differences in the surveys, we recognise that London and New York scored low in The Economist Intelligence Unit survey in their “stability” scores. “Stability” reflects residents’ fear of terror, crime and conflict, and it was recognised that no city in the top 50 got within ten points of New York’s score of 70.
in the City
So for our stable cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide who achieved a top 10 ranking, do the residents feel more comfortable in their environment? Not according to our daily papers who bring stories of street violence, gangs, home invasions, corruption, manipulated crime figures, public transport and transit problems and the all too regular incidents at our clubs and pubs. Although we do recognise that we are a lucky country when comparing what is recognised as terror activity. No two cities in developing a ‘safe city’ are identical especially when responding to local conditions and analysis of incidents etc. We do recognise a common thread in achieving a safe city and that is in cooperation between all stakeholders. Be it a city council, police, private security, welfare organisations and commercial operators within our entertainment precincts, successful outcomes are not achievable without purpose, planning, and partnerships. Many stakeholders are members of industry associations or professional bodies who have a responsibility to their members to facilitate representation in partnering with government, police and local councils in providing a more stable environment and safer place to live. The Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL)3 is one such body. ASIAL is the peak national body for the Australian Security Industry. Established in 1969, ASIAL represents approximately 85 per cent of the security industry in Australia who employ in excess of 140,000 people who can play a partnering role in maintaining safe cities. ASIAL naturally brings to the table a security approach. Some cities will have an emphasis on a CCTV network and other technology and the sharing of that technology with stakeholders and some will utilise the eyes and ears of the human resources at the coalface to achieve outcomes. To create a ‘stable’ environment takes many and varied approaches. One such program has been established in conjunction with the South Australian Police and the Private Security Industry. Titled, ‘Operation Griffin’, and based on the London model, ASIAL sponsored international speakers to come to Australia to present their success stories and encourage development of similar programs. The SA program is recognising success and in turn developing a culture of sustainability. See breakout box.
South Australian Police – Community Safety Model In July 2010, the South Australia Police implemented a state-wide community safety model with the private security industry to address security and community safety issues. The project was based on the United Kingdom Project Griffin and was developed to enhance police and private security partnerships based on the key elements of awareness training, information sharing, and observing and reporting expectations relating to community safety and counter-terrorism.
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