'Safety in numbers' : young people's perspectives on community safety in a suburban context

Community safety/crime prevention research has often focused on the behaviour and attitudes of young people but has not often consulted those young people, even though it is generally recognised that youth participation in community life can significantly reduce the incidence of crime. This paper aims to give voice to opinions and perspectives of young people on community safety issues, through the findings of a community based action research project conducted in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. This paper will give a brief history of the Project, and focus on the findings and themes from the research.