Partnerships and NSW local government Community Safety Officers

Local government Community Safety Officers (CSOs) are now common in many jurisdictions. While their roles are diverse, most CSOs are actively engaged in various partnership approaches. This article discusses the nature and scope of inter-agency partnerships CSOs participate in or coordinate in the Australian jurisdiction of New South Wales (NSW). Through a focus group discussion with 13 CSOs (predominantly from councils in the Sydney Metropolitan Area), it was found that each CSO participates in a variety of inter-agency partnership groups, including those that focus on alcohol and licensing issues, drugs, domestic violence, homelessness and general community safety and crime prevention. Respondents suggested that only some of these committees are effective, raising questions about the ongoing need for and utility of the plethora of inter-agency crime prevention and community safety inter-agency structures operating in NSW.