The European Union aims to ensure that people live in an area of freedom, security and justice, without internal frontiers. Europeans need to feel confident that, wherever they move within Europe, their freedom and their security are well protected, in full compliance with the Union's values, including the rule of law and fundamental rights. In regard to public security threats, the EU has adopted an Action Plan to support the protection of public spaces (COM (2017) 612.), which among other calls for further cooperation at EU level.
At local level, urban security can refer to various forms of crime (including for instance human trafficking, organised crime, sexual violence, violence against vulnerable groups and minorities, vandalism, violent radicalisation and terrorism, including via cross-border health threats) and an actual or perceived lack of security. The definition of threats to urban security requires an objective, evidence-based assessment of vulnerabilities. Local authorities need to conduct this assessment through collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders and communities. Project proposals should aim to address these objectively defined vulnerabilities.
Without being prescriptive in terms of the types of projects expected, cities are invited to consider in particular the following themes and issues:
- Improvement of spatial design, urban planning and development of security by design concepts, including better protection of public spaces improvement of the resilience of buildings and infrastructure
- Standardisation of processes and of technical requirements to enhance urban security;
- Empowerment and capacity building of local communities, including enhanced risk awareness, building societal resilience
- Increased cross-sectoral preparedness to security threats against public spaces including better coordination among first responders and different authorities
- Support for victims of crime
- Assessment of individual needs and support for integration of marginalised people with the view of preventing polarisation which might lead to criminalisation and radicalisation.
- Collection of information on unreported crime
- Cybersecurity.
Read more and download the presentation in all EU languages.
