1. Security and safety in local communities – the introduction of research project
Author: Urška pirnat
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

2. Goals of this presentation
An overview of a research project on Security and safety in local communities in Slovenia.
To present a background of the studies on ensuring local safety and security carried out in the years 2011 and 2017.
To present results of the students‘ work in the framework of the course Security and safety in local communities.
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

3. Research project Security and safety in local communities (2015 - 2018)
Financed by the National Research Agency of Slovenia.
Goals of the research project are to analyze:
legal issues regarding security and safety in local communities,
safety issues in local communities (crime and disorder, victimisation),
solutions for security and safety issues in local communites – in the aspect of national/local safety,
institution and their capacity in provision of security and safety in local communities,
quality of life in local communities and social prevention,
good practices in ensuring local security and safety.
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

4. Research activities (2015 – 2018)
2015 – a literature review, 1st national conference on local safety
2016 – drafting questionnaires for a community survey, 2nd national conference on local safety
2016 – 2017 a bilateral project (SLO-USA)
– a bilateral project (SLO-RU)
2017 – data collection (a representative study)
2017 – 3rd national conference on local safety
2018 – final analysis and publications.
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

5. A study on ensuring safety and security in local communities
Methods:
data gathering in the year 2011 and 2017 (the same questionnaire),
variables were measured on a 5-point Likert scale,
surveying residents and police officers in 24 local communities in Slovenia on the area of 8 police directorates (with each directorate – one small, middle and bigger municipality).
The sample for each municipality was defined based on demographic data.
Size of the samples (residents):
2011: n = 959
2017: n = 1.266
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

6. A study on ensuring safety and security in local communities
The questionnaire included the following fields of research:
the role of municipality in ensuring residents‘ safety,
social cohesion in local communities,
safety and security issues in local communities,
response to safety and security issues,
the role of Slovenian army,
the means of ensuring safety in the future,
the opinion on Slovenian police.
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

7. A study on ensuring safety and security in local communities – sample characteristics
Gender
Male
434/ 45,3
596/47,2
Female
No answer
525/54,6
2/0,2
668/52,8
Age
18-30
371/38,8
273/21,6
31-45
222/23,2
344/27,2
46-60
233/24,4
334/26,4
61-
129/13,5
6/0,6
313/24,8
Education
Unfinished primary school
4/0,4
11/0,9
Primary school
92/9,7
159/12,7
Secondary school
517/54,3
587/46,7
Short-cycle higher vocational
95/10,0
131/10,4
First cycle (academic, professional)
229/24,1
291/23,2
Specialization, Master‘s degree
11/1,2
61/4,9
Ph.D.
9/0,9
16/1,3
10/0,8
Work activitiy
Economy sector
248/25,9
349/27,7
Non.economy sector
196/20,5
289/22,9
Self-employed
55/5,7
76/6,0
Farmer, housewife
13/1,4
Pensioner
152/15,9
311/24,6
Student, apprentice
221/23,1
157/12,4
Unemployed
66/6,9
53/4,2
Other
7/0,7
3/0,3
4/0,3
The size of the settlement
Remote house or small village
194/20,4
231/18,4
Village
313/32,8
310/24,7
Suburban settlement / small town
180/18,9
220/17,6
Larger town / municipality
266/27,9
8/0,8
492/39,3
13/1,0
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

8. Students activities
Research activities in the framework of the course Security and safety in local communities (M.A. study).
Goal of the research activities – to analyze data of the study on local safety from the year and 2017.
Activities:
selection of the topics from the questionnaire (based on the results of factor analysis),
literature reviews of the selected topics,
statistical analyses of data from the study (descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square, ANOVA),
presentation of results and findings.
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

9. Topics discussed today…
Perception of safety issues in local communities
organized crime, prostitution, sexual assaults,
alcohol consumption and drug use, and
migrants, beggars and members of different cultures.
Satisfaction with police work.
Residents‘ willingnes to cooperate with police
assessing police work, and
cooperation between community and the police.
The role of local communities in provision of safety and security
social, and economic safety, and
traffic safety.
Responses to safety and security issues in informal groups.
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018

10. Thank you for your attention!
II. International student conference „Safety in local communities-legal and criminological perspectives“’, Podgorica., 4 April 2018