FOREWARD Aberdeenshire is a vibrant, busy, safe and attractive place to live, work and visit. The Community Safety Partnership has been working together for some seven years to address issues and deliver services that help the residents of Aberdeenshire to build, safe,inclusive, healthy, vibrant and economically attractive communities. To achieve that strategic goal the Partnership has grown to include public organisations, the private sector and voluntary bodies, with the local authority and the police taking the lead in this aspect.

The Partnership has also developed seven community safety groups led by local residents who are encouraged to fund and assist all the partners in the various initiatives run throughout each year.

The Partnership has also carried out three Community Safety Audits and regularly consulted with the public and elected officials whilst developing action plans and strategies to improve community safety.

The Partnership's success is based on the efficient working together of agencies and community representatives and we hope that the strong and effective partnership we have developed will continue to deliver community safety in Aberdeenshire.

The Scottish Executive "Community Safety Partnership Award Programme for 2005-2008", which funds the actions of the partnership, have required us to follow a problem solving approach to identifying, evidencing and planning a three year programme to tackle up to three local community safety problems.

Therefore our 2005 - 2008 strategy is more focussed on the issues that the residents of Aberdeenshire think most important in conjunction with the data collected through the audit and the consultation. The good news is that Aberdeenshire is a relatively safe area of Scotland and enjoys a high prosperity, with good facilities and services. However our Partnership remains committed to:

"Working together for the best quality of life for people in Aberdeenshire by making it safer for all those living in, working in or visiting the area."

Mr William Munro
Area Manager
Aberdeenshire Council
Chair of Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership