sutherland+safety+audit

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Sutherland Safety Audit Report

Introduction

The Sutherland Commercial Business District Community Safety Audit was held on 27August 2006, as a response to concerns voiced by some members of the localcommunity. It was a joint initiative of the Sutherland Shire Community Crime Preventionand Safety Committee and local residents. The safety audit involved background research

including a business survey, resident comments, demographic examination and areported crime profile of the target area in addition to a physical examination of the CBDand other key areas. The recommendations in this audit report are designed to be astarting point for further investigation and action rather than the complete solution.

Why there was a need for a Community Safety Audit

Community Safety is a key area of interest for residents of the Sutherland Shire asidentified in Our Shire Our Future Our Guide to Shaping the Shire to 2030. In 2005, theSutherland Shire Community Plan 2005-2010 was endorsed. The plan is based on officialcrime statistics and comprehensive local consultation in which residents identified thatshopping areas and public space could be a source of fear of crime. As a result, the planincluded a strategy to audit main suburban centres throughout the Sutherland Shire.Although the Community Safety Audit was coordinated by Sutherland Shire Council, withthe invaluable assistance of a wide rage of residents and other stakeholders as evident inthe audit participant list.

Participants

Invitations to participate in the Community Safety Audit were distributed through a widerange of community groups, local businesses and residents. Effort was made toencourage participation from a diverse range of people to reflect the differing needs and

ways that people use public space.

The audit teams that were formed on the night were comprised of a police officer withtraining in Safer By Design (4), Councils staff (4), Councillor (1), Local MP (1) and localbusinesses (4).

Contributors to this report included both direct participants in the safety audit and all thosewho provided comment in the form of workshops, letters, email or by telephone. A numberof key community organisations have been involved in the process. Sutherland ShireCouncil, NSW Police Sutherland Local Area Command, the Sutherland Shire CrimePrevention and Community Safety Committee, Shire Wide Youth Services and the FireService were all represented at the audit.

The Sutherland Safety Audit was undertaken in August 2006 as a joint

project between the Sutherland Shire Crime Prevention and CommunitySafety Committee and local residents and organisations.


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What is a safety audit?

Community Safety Audits help identify areas which may stimulate fear of crime or criminalopportunity. They give local residents a chance to survey public areas, and inform privateand public agencies of existing or potential problem areas that could reasonably be made

safer. This can then result in minimised opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviourand an increased perception of safety. Community Safety Audits are based on the keyprinciples of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). CPTEDencourages the application of design features, routine activities and space managementpractices which alter conditions that create opportunities for disorderly and/or criminalbehaviour (Safer By Design, NSW Police, 1999).

Research shows that many offences occur as a result of opportunities made available to apotential offender. CPTED seeks to remove or minimise these opportunities by eithercreating the perception or the reality that the costs of committing the crime far outweighany potential benefits. This can be done in three ways:

1. By heightening the risks (detection, challenge, identification and apprehension)2. By increasing the effort required (increased time, energy, tools or skills)3. By reducing actual and perceived rewards (minimising, removing or concealing

benefits)

There are three main principles within the CPTED framework. These are:

1. Surveillance

Studies have shown that natural and organised surveillance is capable of influencingperceptions and fear of crime. This is achieved when legitimate space users are able tosee and be seen by others. Coupled with this is the concept of capable guardians. Acapable guardian is someone who would be willing to intervene, challenge or report anincident or unauthorised use of an area.

2. Access Control

Access control is the management of pedestrian and vehicular movement used toestablish or maintain territory and to increase the effort required to commit crime. It usesmovement predictors such as pathways and roads to encourage safety in numbers andemploys both real and symbolic barriers to restrict or channel movement in a particulararea.

3. Territorial Reinforcement

A communitys sense of responsibility for public places and facilities increases the

likelihood of an individual acting as a capable guardian. This responsibility is enhancedthrough design features, actual and symbolic barriers, space definition and activitymanagement strategies.


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Space Management

The three principles of CPTED are underwritten by the concept of space management.Space management is the complete circle of surveillance, access control, territoriality and

capable guardianship. It involves the control and care of public space by responsibleauthorities and the legitimate users of that space.

Community Safety Audits utilise checklists or other forms to note any issues of concernand relate potential solutions to CPTED principles. The audit results will therefore highlightways in which the built environment positively and negatively influences crimeopportunities and fear of crime.

Once a Community Safety Audit is completed, the notes of all participants andcontributors are collated and a report on the findings is developed. The report will ofteninclude a range of potential remedies and community suggested solutions to the issuesraised. The report is made available to all key stakeholders in the targeted area and

copies are sent to those agencies responsible for implementing key recommendations. Itthen becomes a community responsibility to ensure appropriate action is undertaken in allreasonable areas of concern.

Audit Process

NSW Police Volunteer in Policing (ViPs) undertook a detailed Crime and Safety Surveywill all businesses in the Audit zones. Every business was invited to complete a surveyand to participate in the audit. After advertising the details regarding the audit, registrationto attend was opened, and contact details for other submissions were supplied to the localcommunity. Particular organisations were also individually approached and invitations for

representatives extended. This was to ensure, as much as possible, that the audit wasrepresentative of all sections of the community including a wide range of ages,occupations and viewpoints.

The audit was divided into two parts. The first being a daytime audit and the second wasan evening audit with a focus on lighting issues. The participants met at CouncilsAdministration Building before each audit where a general briefing was held. Theparticipants then audited the entire zone as a group. A map of the audit area is included inthis report. Opportunity was allowed at the end of each audit for the participants to discusstheir observations and concerns and to decide on their personal priority areas. Evaluationforms were also filled in at this time.

Audit Area

The main audit area was broken into 4 colour-coded zones (pink, blue, orange and green)with an audit team assigned to each area. The same team completed both the day andthe night audit. Comment and recommendations for these areas are included in the mainbody of this report. The following page contains a map if the audit area.


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Audit Area Map

Each Zone is defined by a specific colour for reference to the recommendations.


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Evaluation of the Audit Process

All participants were given an evaluation form at the debriefing. The majority ofparticipants completed the form and the results are outlined below. Participants wereasked to rate the quality of particular aspects of the audit. A total of 10 feedback forms

were recived. The average rating for each aspect is presented.

Rating scale 1 = extremely poor: 2.5 = poor: 5= neutral: 7.5 = good: 10 = extremely good

Item Average Rating/10

Advance / Advertising Notice 9.3

Audit location 9.0

Initial Briefing 9.1

Audit Form 9.2

Other handouts 9.1

Practical Material (pens, clipboards) 9.2

Refreshments 9.6Debriefing 9.3

The results from the evaluation were overwhelmingly positive, and in general animprovement on past audits.

The pre-audit briefing and practical materials were also well received by most participants.The briefing allowed for all participants to be introduced, and the concepts of the audit tobe discussed.

The audit de-briefing and refreshments were also well received with the short break giving

all participants a chance to discuss issues with each other and decide on priorities foraction.

The main area where improvement from previous audits was required was the audit form,and it had been substantially altered. The new forms were well received and will continueto be used into the future.


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Background Information

Sutherland is thought to be named after Forby Sutherland, a sailor on the Endeavour.

Sutherland is an established residential area, with some parklands and a cemetery.

Sutherland is bounded by the suburb of Jannali in the north, Acacia Road in the east,Princes Highway and First Avenue in the south and the suburb of Woronora in the west.Development of the area dates originally from the 1880s when land was subdivided afterthe route of the Illawarra railway had been decided. A village was established in the late1800s, becoming the service centre for the western part of the Shire and the interchangepoint for holiday makers travelling from Sydney to Cronulla. Significant development didnot occur until the 1950s, largely due to the limited agricultural capacity of the area,although the town did grow due to industries such as a tile and brickworks, tramway,railway, cemetery, council and the nearby National Park. Sutherland has experienced alarge increase in population between 1996 and 2001, a result of new dwellings (mainlymedium density) being added to the area.

The unemployment rate in Sutherland was similar to Sutherland Shire in 2001 at about4%. The unemployment rate remained fairly stable between 1996 and 2001, while theSutherland Shire also remained stable over this period.Sutherland had a notable proportion of its population in less traditional households,especially lone person (31%) and couple only households (28.2%). The basis for thegreater concentration of these household types relates to a number of things, such as themuch stronger share of flats, apartments and other higher density dwelling types, whichtends to attract smaller households.Household income levels in 2001 for Sutherland relative to Sutherland Shire revealed alower share of high income households and a greater concentration of households at thelow income end.

The distribution of educational qualifications across the population of Sutherland in 2001showed a highly educated workforce, with significant skills. About 44% of the populationnoted some form of educational qualification, with the most significant being those peoplewith vocational qualifications.

(2001, Census Data, Australian Bureau of Statistics)


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Police Statistics

Offences occurring in the suburb of Sutherland have been examined for the 12 monthperiod of 2005 calendar year. Sutherland is part of Sutherland Local Area Command(LAC). Sutherland LAC is comprised of the western end of the Sutherland Shire from

Gymea (Sylvania Road) to Sutherland, the greater Menai Area, south to Waterfallincluding Engadine and Heathcote, and the outlying areas of Bundeena/Maianbar andSandy Point. Information in this section of the report is courtesy of Sutherland local AreaCommand.

The population of Sutherland is approximately 8,500 while the population of the entireSutherland LAC is approximately 110,600. This means that Sutherlands population isroughly 7.7% of the population of the LAC.

Police Statistics - Sutherland 2006

13

58

138 148

205229

0

50

100

150

200

250

ROBBERY

STOLEN

V

EHICLE/VESSEL

ASSAULT

BREAK

AND

ENTER

MALICIOUS

DAMAGE

STEALING

Sutherland Crime Statistics 2006

Stealing was the most reported crime in the suburb of Sutherland in 2006. Two hundredand twenty nine (229) stealing offences were reported in Sutherland. Forty six per cent(46%) of all stealing offences in Sutherland were further classified as steal from motorvehicles. Sutherland Recorded 18% of all stealings, and 20% of all steal from motorvehicle offences in the LAC

Malicious Damage was the second most reported crime in Sutherland in 2006 with twohundred and five (205) incidents. Malicious Damage in Sutherland is most likely to occur

on a Friday or Saturday night. August recorded the most Malicious Damage during 2006.Eighty five per cent (85%) of the Malicious Damage in Sutherland was to property andfifteen percent (15%) was Graffiti. Sutherland recorded 12% of malicious damage in theLAC.

Break and Enter. One hundred and forty eight (148) Break and Enter incidents werereported in Sutherland in 2006. Break and Enter offences in Sutherland are most likely tooccur on a Thursday or Friday night. Sutherland recorded 18% of all Break and Enters inthe LAC

Other Offences Sutherland had a higher rate of assault than other suburbs within the LAC(22% of recorded assaults). Sutherland also had a higher rate of Robbery than other

suburbs; however the number of offences is very low when compared with Sydney as awhole


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Impact on businessThe crime, whether reported or not, had an impact on most businesses. One quarter of allbusiness noted that crime had increased their insurance premiums, whilst 14% stated thatcrime damaged their business image. 11% of businesses stated that crime had disruptedtrading and another 11% indicated that they had changed the layout of their businesses inresponse to crime. Lower staff morale due to crime was reported in 8% of cases andanother 8% stated that they had either lost business or postponed investment in theirbusiness due to crime.In spite of these negative impacts only 16% of businesses thought crime was a seriousproblem, whilst 38% thought it was a problem, 25% thought it was a small problem and17% thought it was no problem or they didnt know.

Security MeasuresBusinesses were asked about the security measures they have in place. 10 respondentschose not to answer this question and more than one answer was allowed. The mostpopular form of security was a monitored alarms (70%), followed by computer securitydevices (30%). Another 20% of businesses had duress alarms, business alarms or

camera surveillance, and a quarter had implemented some sort of security related stafftraining. Other measures used included bars, and private security patrols. Less than 10%of businesses sought advice from the Chamber of Commerce or local police. Only 5% ofbusinesses were aware of Council Community Crime Prevention and Safety Committee.


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Priority Issues and recommendations

Although participants in the audit and other contributors were free to comment on anyaspect of Sutherland, participants were also asked to rate their top 3 concerns for prioritytreatment.

Priority Issue 1 - General Clean up

There was a general feeling amongst allaudit participants of the need for ageneral clean and upgrade of the entireCBD. Issues such as street furniturewhich doesnt match, mixed lighting levelsand styles and rubbish storage anddumping were raised in all areas.

Priority Issue 2 FootpathsThe audit area included sections ofSutherland which have particularly poorfootpaths. Many areas had seen a rangeof repairs and minor upgrades resulting ina patched appearance and potential level

hazards

Examples of items left out in public

for pick up or disposal.

Examples of damaged and repairedfootpaths which create an unseemlyappearance and potentially trip

hazards.


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Zone Orange Recommendations

LOCATION ResponsibleOrganisation

Problems/Issue/Concern Pim

Extensive Graffiti Ap

re

South boundary of Instyle

onward & North boundary ofFranklins onward BoyleLane

Businesses Assorted

Owners

south wall of Instyle Broken Instyle Manhole Broken could cause falls and injuries topedestrians

Apm

Footpath at east end ofBoyle Lane

Council Raised portion of footpath lip causing injury topedestrians

Legu

East end of Boyle Lane Council Tree branch overhanging knocked regularly by largetrucks

Re

Footpath at rear of InstyleCouncil

Concrete caving in risk to pedestrian safety Re

Half way along Boyle Lane Thai Rose Cardboard Bin potential fire hazard Pl

gaEast end of Boyle Lane Council Time Limit sign not visible TrHalf way along Boyle Lane Thai Rose Storage cupboard with evidence of fire damage

cupboard containing paint not secureLo

Half way along Boyle Lane Council Blocked drain could cause flooding CoRear of Word in BoyleLane.

Word Crushed cardboard boxes emulating damp odourand accumulation of rubbish

Re

Rear of Farmer Johns Farmer Johns Area used for storage of crates and milk crates Sttra

Rear of Farmer Johns Council Potholes in roadway ReRear of Sara Lee Sara Lee Power board not secure OwFootpath lip at end of BoyleLane

Council Remove lip to become flush with level of gutter G

Outside 824 Old PrincesHighway

Council Potholes in footpath Fi

Bitumen surface adjacent tocommuter car park OldPrinces Highway

Council Potholes in foot path Fi

Fencing along commuter carpark Old Princes Highway

Guard rail damaged by motor vehicle Re

Commuter Car park Old Council Guard rail dumped in car park and empty beer bottles Re


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Princes HighwayOuter Perimeter of car park Old Princes Highway

Council Rusted metal pole with jagged edging Re

Council Absence of pedestrian crossing Trsu

Council Foot path uneven Re

Council Lip of pram ramp needs lowering G

Cnr. President Avenue & OldPrinces Highway

Council Guard rail in need of repair damage caused byvehicle

Re

Cnr President Avenue & OldPrinces Highway

Council Footpath on south side of President Avenue unevenRe

Out side Decked Out Council Footpath unevenRe

Rosin Court South wall Rosin Court GraffitiOw

Electricity Box Energy Provided GraffitiOw

Seat out side of FranklinsStore

Council Damaged benchTo

East end of Boyle Lane Council Absence of lighting for pedestrian safety InBoyle Lane Council Narrow laneway and pedestrian safety issues ReAlcove at rear of FarmerJohns

Farmer John Secure fencing no visibility into area at night Ar

Bin outside 826 Old PrincesHighway

Council Damaged garbage BinRe

Commuter Car Park Council Light at further most end south end not operating ReFarmer Johns Car park Farmer John Lighting in car park on south boundary of car park Ap

reCnr. Eton Lane & Gray Street Council Need for street light

InEton Lane Council No Lighting Risk for B & Es on nearby garages &

motor vehicle offences

Ap

insCnr President Avenue & EtonStreet

Council Light on South East curb inoperativeRe


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Zone Pink - Recommendations

Location Responsibleorganisation

Problems/Issues/Concerns Poss

Forby Sutherland Gardens Council Managers Car Park Trees overshading Park Recons

park

Forby Sutherland Gardens Council Dense vegetation adjoining foot path Thinnin

Forby Sutherland Gardens Council Signage shows Shire Clerk UpdateForby Sutherland Gardens Council Informal pathway off Eton Street Consid

Forby SutherlandGardens/All garbage Bins

SSC Vandalised garbage Bin Is there

All Garbage bins outsideCripps & Cripps Real Est.

SSC Internal bin can be easily removed and useddestructively

Secure

Forby Sutherland Gardens SSC Missing sign on entrance to car park Replac

Corner garden ext to Cripps& Cripps Real Est.

SSC Timber stakes marking cut water mains Place g

Garden/vegetation outsideCripps & Cripps Old PrincesHwy across shop fronts ingeneral

SSC No guardianship concealment Thinnin

Eton Street Shops ingeneral

Various Businesses Lack of street nmbering is an offence to notdisplay

Remin

Better Choice Home Loans Better Choice HomeLoans

Damaged sign face looks poorly Contac

736 Eton Street, Sutherland Business Burnt out shop not well secured Requebuilding

Electricity Box outside ANZ

Bank

Energy Australia Graffiti Contac

Garden near SolitaireJewellers/Eton Arcade

Neighbouring fast foodstores

Plastic bread delivery containers dumped in Garden Contacarrange

Eton Arcade Entrance Private businesses Graffiti on panels supporting roller shutter Contac

St. George Bank St. George Bank Glass Graffiti Contac

Telstra phone box outside Telstra Glass Graffiti Contac


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BankFlora Street outside ATMS SSC Generally untidy lots of rubbish and cigarette buts Approa

need Call.

ST. George Bank St. George Bank Graffiti around ATMs Contac

Australia Post Australia Post Lack of under awing lights Sugge

Sutherland Kebab house Sutherland kebabHouse

Intoxicated people loitering outside Suggepreven

Garbage Bin outside KodakExpress on Corner

NeighbouringBusinesses

Businesses dumping rubbish next to bin Remindcomme

Curves Fitness centre 39Eton Street Car park

Curves Fitness Double gate has gap of 20cms. sufficient room toget underneath

Requeground

Australia Post Car ParkFencing

Australia Post Could be easily climbed Sugge

Australia Post Car Park Australia Post Graffiti RequeSignage at front of Surgery 2/27a Eton Street,Sutherland

2/27a Eton St Signage damaged and unstable sign in groundrear of driveway

Reque

Greendoor between 29 - 27Eton Street

Private business Tagged Remov

Crossing oppositeEntertainment Centre

SSC No clear sign for pedestrians that this is a sharedarea

Investig

Rear Southside Elements Southside Elements Huge amount of rubbish dumped in loading zone Write toRear Southside Elements Southside Elements Graffiti on brick wall, gate, display board & garage

doorReque

ANZ rear night safe ANZ No real surveillance set back off street andconcealed in an alcove

Determif it is -front w

Rearof Liquor Land Liquor Land Large bins, junk etc. in drive way areas to hide Need s

boundaChemist 9 Eton Street Chemist Graffiti on signage Reque

Bushland next to 711opposite Cripps & Cripps

SSC Poor surveillance could be used for underagedrinking/drugs etc evidence and path wornthrough

Have bsurveil

711 711 Rubbish next to store in bushland Requegraffiti


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Public car park outsideadministration area

SCC Sphere lighting doesnt throw enough light Investig

Directors Car Park SCC Light closest to Credit Union entrance not working ReplacSutherland Forby Gardens SSC Number of lights out ReplacRound-a-bout opposite 711 SSC 2 Street lights out. Light over pedestrian crossing

Pedestrian crossing Old Princes HwyRenew

Car Park area Old PrincesHighway

SSC Lighting doesnt appear to be good even distributionof lighting or colour rndition currently sodiumlighting

Investi

Old Princes Highway InGeneral

Individual businesses Relying on Street lighting only Suggeslighting

Old Princes Highway Carpark entrance

SSC Lighting not working Replac

Pedestrian crossing OldPrinces Hghwy outsideChemist

SSC Light not working Replac

Cnr Old Princes Hwy& FloraSt

SSC Light not working Replac

Eton St, from Flora

Fabrics/Cripps &Cripps/Liquor Land/Rest.

Individual businesses Very Poorly lit encour

Zone Green Recommendations

Location Responsibleorganisation

Problems/Issues/Concerns Poss

Overpass RailwayStation Sutherland

6.00 pm Traffic very bad because of pedestrianswalking at crossing. Traffic & pedestrian safety 4.30am moving slowly but a lot of it.

Underpnot vehsouth n

Walkway from Railway to EastPde.

Railcorp Very dirty, rubbish Clean

Cnr. Oxford and East Parade Energy Australia Telegraph pole is leaning over may be dangerous Contac

Sutherland United ServicesClub

Suth. United Serv.Club

Lots of graffiti on rear wall Contac

Car park at rear of SUS club Suth. United Serv.Club

No marking on rear car park and no way findingtools. Poor condition. South eastern corner hasbecome dumping ground for construction.

Clean a


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Robertson Lane SSC Parking signs are bent and faded Need r

Robertson Lane Unit Block Some graffiti Recom

Memorial Art CentreRobertson lane

Memorial Art Centre Large boxes left on footpath. Sewer gully grate hasno lock and access can be gained.

Contac

Robertson Lane Destro Terracotta Pots Garage opposite has lots of graffiti on roller doors

and palates. Also graffiti on front of building andweeds growing out of wall

Contac

Adelong Street Telstra Etching on Phone booth Contac

Railway Car park, EastParade, southern end

Railcorp Entrance to car park signs obscured by large tree.No border on western side of car park. Fence hasbeen crushed over by car.

Contac

East Parade, Bus interchange Leaves in guttering of roof. Floor tiles and roofingneeds to be gurneyed very dirty. Bus displays arebeing etched Good CCTV

Needs

East parade Shops Various Shop front faade looking very tired (tiles falling off) Contac

East ParadeSouthside Runners/The worst

Southside Runners Lots of graffiti on wall and etching on glass. Hideyhole maybe this is why it is so bad 3 broken lights Next door unleased same problems, samedesign.

Move s(Shops(17-19

East Parade outsideMemorial Arts Building

Telstra Etching very bad on pay phone Contac

Railway underground walk way Railcorp Lighting good needs mirrored dome to seearound corner.

Needs (underg

New car park of Suth. ServicesClub squash Courts.

SUS Club No lighting heaps of graffiti Contac

Robertson Lane/southern end Energy Australia 1277 light pole large tree obstructing light Have tEast Parade, next door toSouthside Runners

Private Business Lighting evident not working Contac

East Parade ABC Kitchens Broken light 2 other lights not used (lighting good) Remov

Sutherland ServicesClub/Southern half SUS Club Poor lighting Contac


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