Department of Public Health Sciences
Division of Social Medicine

Issue 38

Safe Community Monthly News

September 2010

In this issue
ConferenceNews
NewSafeCommunitydesignations
Call:SafeHospitalNetwork
SafeCommunityProgramForthcomingConferences
MediaAward

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DearColleagues,
WeareproudtointroduceyouanothernewSafeCommunities.
WehavereportsfromChina,Iceland,NewZealand.
Newsandreportsofthisissueareappendedbelow.Sameissueisalsoavail
ableatourWHOCollaboratingCentreonCommunitySafetyPromotionweb
site:http://www.phs.ki.se/csp/who_newsletters_en.htm
Withwarmregards
LeifSvanström,ResponsibleEditor
KoustuvDalal,Editor

The Second European Safe Community Conference Incorporating the 7th
Nordic Conference on Safe Communites, Reykjavík, Iceland, May 19-20, 2010.
OneofthemainissueswastoreestablishtheEuropeanNetworkofSafeCommunities,ESCONandduringtheconferencean
inauguralmeetingofESCONwasheldtoadoptthebylawsandelectofficers.Dr.BørgeYtterstadfromNorwaywaselected
chairforthenextfouryears.
DespiteEyjafjallajökull´sactivityandashclouds,approx150guestsfrom17countriestookpartintheconference.Overallthe
Scientificprogrammewasofhighquality.Eightkeynotespeakerswereinvited,eachonegivingexcellentpresentationson
differentaspectsofsafetypromotion.FromchallengesinthepreventionofinjuriesandviolenceinEurope,theroleofthe
healthcaresysteminviolenceandinjuryprevention,topracticalsuicidepreventioninacommunityandtheneedofloveand
happiness,anessenceinlifetokeepussafefrominjuries,violence,drugabuseandotherharmfulthings.Thefocuswasalso
onhowtoincreasetheEuopeanparticipationininternationalSafeCommunitywork,theworkofthedifferentregionsinEuropeaswellasimplementationofvariousprogrammesonbothnationalandcommunitylevels.
Dr.SvanströmopendtheconferenceandgaveanoverviewoftheInternationalSafeCommunitymovement;Presentstatus
andprospectsforfuturedevelopmentunderliningthesustainabilityoftheSafeCommunities,ashesonicelyputit:“Ittook
usthirtyyearstoestablishtheideasofSafeCommunities,twentyyearstoorganizetheInternationalNetworkwithbasicallynomonetaryresources”.TheaimistoformalizethemovementasaNonGovernmentalOrganization.
Parallellsessionsandpostersreflectedonthediversityofalltopicsofsafetypromotion,likechildren,elderly,transport,
disaster,suicide,homesandothers.
DuringtheconferencethePublicHealthInstituteofIcelandwasdesignatedasanAffiliatedSafeSupportCentre,an
importanteventforfutureworktointroducetheconceptofSafeCommunityinIcelandaswellassupportingthedevelopmentofESCON(DrMirjanaMilankov,DrAiliLaasner,DrBørgeYtterstad,RósaThorsteinsdóttir,AimoAthi,An
gelaPoroli).ItwasapleasureandanhonourtohostthisconferenceandwelookforwardtothethirdEuropeanSafe
CommunityconferencewhichwillbeheldinFalköping,Sweden.










Prof. Leif Svanström with ESCON Board
Margrét Bjönrsdóttir and
ESCON Board
Moa Sundström
Reporter:RósaThorsteinsdóttir,Iceland
1Rotorua, New Zealand: International Safe Communities Designation # 200
RotoruaDistrictisamediumsizedNewZealandcitywithapopulationof66,000.ItislocatedinthecentreoftheNorthIslandandlieslargelywithintheBayofPlentyregion.RotoruaDistrictiscentredaroundathrivingurbanareaonthesouthernshoreofLakeRotorua,andextendstoincludeasubstantialruralareaaswellaslakeside
communities.  Thirtysix percent of the people who live in the District are Maori and Te Arawa is the local Iwi.
RotoruaisavisitoriconinNewZealandandoverseas,dueinparttoitsgeothermalandculturalattractions.On
average,therearemorethan8,500visitorsperdaystayingincommercialaccommodationinRotorua.TheRotoruaDistrictapplicationforaccreditationasanInternationalSafeCommunity(ISC)wasextremelycomprehensive
(156pagesintotal).
The Treasure Rotorua project has been actively working towards International Safe Community designation
over the past two years.  Treasure Rotorua is made up of representatives from Rotorua District Council, Castle
corp,RotoruaPolice,ToiTeOra,LakesDHB,ACC,NeighbourhoodSupport,TeWaiarikiPureaTrust,MSDand
localiwi.
The Treasure Rotorua Steering Group which is coordinated by Rotorua District Council hosted the site visit
reviewteaminMayforitsassessmentofwhetherRotoruahadmetsixkeycriteriarequiredfordesignationasanInternationalSafeCommunity.RotoruaDistrictCouncilSafeCommunitydesignationleaderAmyRoystonsays
theassessmentdayprovidedanopportunitytoshowcasesomeofthecommunity’swiderangeofsafetyprojects.
“ThereviewteamobservedtheAquaticCentre’sUnisonLakeSafetyprogrammeinaction,adrivewaysafety
demonstration at City Focus, and saw how Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design has been imple
mentedinRotorua.Thedaywasahugesuccess,andit’sagreatachievementforRotorua.Itsrecognitionofthe
manygroupsandindividualswhoplayapartinimprovingsafetyforourcommunity.
TheaccreditationdoesnotimplythatRotoruaisperfectlysafe.Howeveritdoesconfirmthatasacommunity
weareabsolutelycommittedtomakingRotoruaassafeaspossibleforourresidentsandforthehundredsofthou
sandsofpeoplewhovisiteveryyear.
SafeCommunitiesFoundationNZdirectorDrCarolynCoggansaysthereviewteamwashighlyimpressedbythecalibreofRotorua’sISCapplicationdocument.
“ItisoneofthemostcomprehensivefromNewZealandoraroundtheworld.Thereisarangeofcomprehen
sive crime prevention and safety programmes operating (n=92), and outcomes have been identified to measure
theirreachandimpact.ItisevidentthatthereisgoodcollaborationbetweendifferentgroupsinRotoruaworkingtoimprovesafetyandreducecrime.”
DrCogganalsosaidthereviewteamthoughtitwasgreatRotoruaMayorKevinWintersissupportiveofthe
projectandisrightbehindthecommunity.
SelectedevaluationfindingssummarizedintheRotoruaISCapplicationinclude:
Overallcrimerateinthelastfiveyearshascomedownbyalmost25%.
AnalysisofPolicestatisticsshowthatin2008crimedroppedby7.5%.
A 50% reduction in vehicle crime at the Rotorua District Council or Department of Conservation controlled
carparksthataretargethardenedthroughCPTEDassessmentandimplementationofrecommendations.
A50%reductioninthenumberofvisitorsasvictimsofvehiclecrimeasaresultofthe‘ProjectPapaWaka’.
A27%decreaseininjurydeathsbetween20012005.
AformalpresentationeventtocelebrateRotorua’sInternationalsafeCommunitydesignationwasheldinRo
toruaon25thJune,2010.DrCogganwouldrecommendthatanycommunitywantingtoreviewagoodexampleofacomprehensiveISCapplicationdownloadandreadthe‘TreasureRotorua:OurJourneytoaSaferCommunity’
application.FurtherinformationcanbefoundbyvisitingtheSafeCommunitiesFoundationNZwebsitehttp://
www.safecommunities.org.nz/sc/roto
Reporter:TaniaPeter,NewZealand.

Call for International Safe Hospitals Network
Hospitalscanplayavitalroleforinjurypreventionandsafetypromotion.HospitalsshouldbeactivelyinvolvedintheSafe
Communityprogram.Therefore,WHOCCCSPhasdevelopedanew‘SafeCommunityHospitalNetwork’andcallingfor
memberships.Formembershipandtechnicalsupportspleasecontact
Prof.LeifSvanstrom(leif.svanstrom@ki.se)
orDr.KoustuvDalal(koustuv.dalal@liu.se).2

Hutt Valley, New Zealand: International Safe Communities Designation #203
OnMonday1stAugust2010,membersoftheSafeHuttValleyInteragencyGroup(SHVIG)hostedsixISCreviewersandsix
observersfromSCFNZ,ChristchurchCity,MinistryofHealth,ALAC,Safekids,NZPolice,MinistryofSocialDevelopment,
ACCandMinistryofJustice.TheleadagenciesoftheSHVIGareHuttCityCouncil,UpperHuttCityCouncil,RegionalPublic
Health,HuttValleyDistrictHealthBoard(DHB),AccidentCompensationCorporation(ACC),thePolicefromboththeHutt
CityCouncilandUpperHuttCityCouncilPoliceDistricts,andAwakairangiMaoriRegionalBoard.Thecommitmentofthesetwocitiesatbothapoliticalandoperationalleveltoworktogethereffectivelytoimprovecommunitysafetyprovidesagoodmodelforotherstoadopt.Thereviewteamacknowledgesandcongratulateallinvolved.

SafeHuttValleySignatories,atDesignationCeremonyDesignationCeremonyTheHuttValley(comprisingofHuttandUpperHuttCity)is91,615hectaresinsize,andhasapopulationofapproximately
136,116people.Thecollectivecommitmenttoshareskills,time,energy,informationandresourcesforthedevelopmentofa
positivesafetycultureandsaferenvironmentsthroughouttheHuttValleywasevidentbothintheISCapplicationandduringthesitevisit.Theparticularfocusonyoungpeopleandthepositiveinfluencethiscanhaveonthedevelopmentofasafety
cultureandsafetyoutcomesfortheHuttValleywashighlighted.
SafeHuttValleyisalsotobecongratulatedontheireffortsrelatingtoroadsafety,injuryandcrimeprevention.Ahighlight
of the site visit was the field trip and presentation to Dulux demonstrating good workplace safety practices.  It also highlightedastrongconnectionbetweenworkandnonworkinjurypreventionefforts.
FollowingthereviewoftheSafeHuttValleyapplicationandtheresultsofthesitevisit,theISCdesignationceremonytook
placeonthe2ndSeptemberinHuttValley.“Thedesignationceremonycontinuedtoreaffirmtheongoingactivesupportfromkey
agenciesandgroups.”statedDrCarolynCoggan,chairofthereviewteam.Additionally,thepresentationbytheTaiohiMorehu
youthgroupduringthedesignationceremonywaspowerfulandimpressive,andgaveaveryappropriatemessageonbully
ingandviolenceinthehome.FurtherinformationcanbefoundbyvisitingtheSafeCommunitiesFoundationNZwebsitehttp://
www.safecommunities.org.nz/sc/hutt
Reporter:TaniaPeters,NewZealandTeam
SafeHuttValleyInteragencyGroup,alongsidetheSiteVisit

Huamu Safe Community and Safe Kids China, educated on safe outing tips
Summervacationison!Childrenareexcitedforouting,especiallytotheShanghaiExpo.
Trafficsafety,missingpreventionandstandinginthelineforalongtimearethemostconcernedsafetyissuesbyparents.
OnJuly.16,HuamuSafeCommunity,handedupwithSafeKidsChina,conductedaSafeOutingeducationatYanlordGar
den.Around15childrenagedfrom7to15participatedtheindeptheducation,and5communityvolunteersservedasteachingfacilitators.
Safetyeducationshouldbetranslatedintoactions.Ledby
Today I’ve got to know the safety information such
Safe Kids professional staff, each children group did roleas what’s the reliable person for help if I get missing. I believe these safety tips could help me to stayplaytopracticethesafetytips,anditwasreallyfun.Aftersafe.
the activity, feedback from children and volunteers wereFangyu Lin, 7 years oldcollected.Itwasrewardingthatchildrenhaswelldigestedthe safety tips, as reflected from their writings. Indepth
educationofsuchkindwashighlyappreciatedbytheresi
dents, and more activities will be arranged according to
thelocalneeds.
Reporter:ChenFang,China.

3Forthcoming Safety and Injury Conferences2010
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The1stInternationalSafeCommunitiesConferenceforEastandCentralAfrica
ThePotencyofSafeCommunitiesin(EastandCentral)Africa:timeforaction!48October,2010,Kampala,Uganda
Contacts:1..imukasa@pincergroup.org,2.mmutto@pincergroup.org
P.O.Box72455,KampalaUganda.Tel:+256312265106x WorldConferencesforInjuryPreventionandSafetyPromotion
10thWorldConferenceonInjuryPreventionandSafetyPromotion,2124September,2010,London,UK
http://www.safety2010.org.uk
ConferenceProgramme
Contact:KarenHughes:Email:k.e.hughes@ljmu.ac.uk
Tel:+44(0)1512318723,CentreforPublicHealth,LiverpoolJohnMooresUniversity,KingswayHouse,5thFloor,Hatton
Garden,LiverpoolL32AJ,UKTel:+44(0)1512314510|Fax:+44(0)1512314515


2011

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20thInternationalSafeCommunitiesConference
CelebratingtwodecadesofInternationalSafeCommunityDevelopmentgoingbacktowhereitallstarted69September2011,FalunMunicipality,Dalarna,Sweden
FirstAnnouncement:http://falun.se/www/externa/safe2011.nsf/Vbild/3789B4B81526E69BC1257703004FDF27/$FILE/
safe_community.pdf.Conferencewebpage:www.falun.se/safecom2011
Contact:safecom2011@falun.sex WorldConferenceonDrowningPrevention,1013May2011,Vietnam.Forfurtherinformationvisithttp://www.worldconferenceondrowningprevention.org/ 2012
RegionalSafeCommunityConferences
6thAsianRegionalConferenceonSafeCommunitiesin2012
Friday,11Sunday,13,May,2012,Tokyo,Japan
The3rdEuropeanSafeCommunityConference
ThefutureroleoftheFireandRescueServiceinthesustainabilityofSafeCommunitiesinEurope45June2012
Falköping,Sweden
Contact:annette.holmberg@falkoping.se

3rd International Safety Media Awards
HonoringEffectiveInjuryPreventionMediaTheISMAAwardsCelebrationwilltakeplaceatthe
Safety2010ConferenceLondon,UK•September2124,2010
Categoriesries:Print•Audio•Video
LeverageYourSuccessForFutureProjects.ReceiveInternationalRecognitionForYourMedia
ShowcaseYourWorkWithInternationalColleagues.Formoreinformationgotowww.teachingstory.com/isma.
Email:Marcia@ourreality.org







WHOCollaboratingCentreforCommunitySafetyPromotion
KarolinskaInstitutet
DepartmentofPublicHealthSciences
DivisionofSocialMedicine
Norrbacka2ndFloor,SE17176,Stockholm,Sweden.
Communication:KoustuvDalal,PhD.Editor(Email:koustuv.dalal@liu.se)
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