It is about, not only preventing and reducing crime but the fear of crime and improving the quality of community life through multi-agency partnerships between the public, private and voluntary sectors. Community safety affects us all: young and old, men and women, minority groups, special interest groups, the business community, the voluntary sector, victims and offenders. In truth, every one who lives, visits or works in the area.

Everyone would like to live in a safe community where there is no fear of becoming a victim of crime and where they can feel safe in their homes and going about their daily lives. Community Safety concerns us all from individuals and families, to communities and organisations and by working together we stand the best chance of making Bedfordshire a safer place to live work and play in.

The 1998 Crime and Disorder Act and its 2006 review states that crime and disorder is not now the sole responsibility of the Police.
Enforcement, of course, still remains one of their key roles but the Act places a clear obligation on fire, police and local authorities to consider the implications of their activities on crime and disorder and work in partnership to reduce this risk.

Each authority was instructed to set up a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and this has happened in North, Mid and South Beds and Luton.

Each of those partnerships has produced a Community Safety Strategy 2008-2011 to set out their aims and objectives.