Community crime prevention in Portugal: an introduction to Local Safety Contracts

Abstract Following the philosophy of other international programs as proximity policing or situational crime prevention, Local Safety Contracts (CLS) have been an innovative strategy in Portugal, they allow sharing accountabilities between central and local administration, association with police community. Nonetheless, little has written Portugal about such strategies, nothing at all for scientific The aim this paper is therefore to present CLS, discussing their prevention stance impacts on communities. First, new preventive multidisciplinary organizational model that basis CLS discussed. Then a qualitative assessment implementation made through set interviews relevant actors. Conclusions are drawn based experiences municipalities, contributing debate community enhancing need multidisciplinary, multilevel place-specific approaches.