Community safety promotion at local, regional, and national levels. Summary report from a workshop on local organizing and societal contributions with regard to the development of Safe Communities, held at the Third International Conference on Safe Communities, June 6-8, 1994, Harstad, Norway

Abstract

Abstract Community approaches are widely employed in health and safety promotion. In this article, some of the basic theoretical and conceptual elements in the field of community safety promotion are critically reviewed in the light of their practical application. Among others, the Safe Community concept is compared with the concept of Healthy Cities. The practical implications are discussed from two perspectives: first, local organizing and participation and, second, the importance of contributions and support from the regional and national levels. A number of international examples illustrates the conclusion that there is a need for further development of the Safe Community model and what is understood as Community Safety Promotion.