Community safety case study
Communities across the world have specific security and safety concerns which are often ignored or inadequately dealt with by under-resourced police services. This case study shows how Saferworld helped a community in Kosovo better understand its local security problems and find practical solutions to make residents feel safer and more secure.
“We are very happy that the pavement has been built...we can walk to school more freely.” Fourth grade pupil.
The people of Gërmovë/Grmovo in south-east Kosovo felt abandoned. Rubbish was piled high in the streets and attracted wild dogs, cars roared recklessly past their children as they walked to school and illegal guns were widely bought and sold.
Saferworld and partner the Forum for Civic Initiatives (FIQ) helped the community to identify priority areas to improve the safety of the local area. Amongst others, these included: bad relations between the police and the community; the danger of traffic accidents on the main road because there was no pavement; and the public health hazards posed by uncollected rubbish.
We worked with the residents to develop a plan of action – a 'Safer Community Plan' - to provide practical solutions to tackle these problems. To make sure the plan was implemented, a ‘Community Improvement Council’ was set up and led by local residents who met weekly.
As progress was made, the villagers gained confidence and began to set their own objectives and mobilise local support for their plans.
What followed was a number of tangible results which helped boost the confidence of the community in dealing with government institutions and local security providers like the police.
The results
- meetings were held with local police chiefs
- traffic patrols were introduced in the village
- a police officer was delegated to take part in the Council’s meetings
- 1km pavement was built along the main road – completed less than 6 months after the first Council meeting
- 20 large steel waste bins were donated to the community by a private refuse collection company.
Today, Gërmovë/Grmovo has a working system of refuse collection. Traffic is much calmer, thanks to regular police patrols. Children can walk to school safely along the new pavements.
Perhaps most importantly, relations between villagers and local authorities have improved immensely.
"The police will continue with the patrols, and will be available to the community anytime they need our assistance." Kosovo Police Officer.
With a renewed sense of community and co-operation, the people of Gërmovë/ Grmovo are now ready for the challenges ahead.
Read our report which documents our approach and experience of developing community safety programmes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia.
Download 'Creating safer communities: Lessons from South Eastern Europe'
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