UrbSecurity

UrbSecurity

Safety and security are becoming key strategic goals of any urban policy. By nature, urban security will always be under a strong regulatory framework defined at regional, national, and even in some cases at EU level, but at the city level, local authorities can play an important role to bring these measures to the ground, promoting safety and quality of life. Principles of security by design should be embedded in every urban project, as a way of assuring that we are not creating new security issues for the future.

The main goal of the project was to ensure that the IAP was not only a strategic tool but also a document with concrete actions, capable of promoting a real change in the situation. Over the course of the project, the URBACT Local Group (ULG) identified issues in a Longford context that have a negative impact on the perception of urban security for users of the town centre. The main issues identified can be summarised as:

• Garda profile
• Town appearance
• Perception
• Safe mobility
• Utilise urban assets

As part of the project in Longford town, there was a focus on the integration of different policies already in place in the city, while adding over it a programme of revitalisation that included, for instance testing the installation of urban art, redesigning walkways or improving lighting to prevent anti-social behaviour.

The goal is to change people’s perception of overall safety in the town. In fact, mainstream and social media coverage tends to focus on high profile, negative news stories, incidents and events. To counter this negative perception, a set of activities were foreseen in the IAP to build community spirit and outline positive interventions and events in the town that can help make a safer urban environment.

Documents 

Click here to view the Longford Integrated Action Plan

Pictures:

The making of Aontach