Council works with NSW Police, Gunnedah Shire Crime Prevention Working Group and community groups, sports clubs and other partners to conduct community safety and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) audits of public spaces. A safety or CPTED audit is an assessment of spaces that considers the intended use of the space and how people move about, lighting, pathways and connectivity, public amenities, maintenance, accessibility, natural surveillance, sightlines, signage and the general perceptions of safety by users of the spaces, to name a few. Audits also consider the level of vandalism, graffiti, illegal dumping and other illicit activity that may be occurring in the space, with audit recommendations used by teams across Council to influence urban planning and to determine how best to enhance safety across the Shire. These audits are a proven method to reduce crime and fear of crime by changing a property's physical environment. If you know of a space where safety could be enhanced, please contact Council’s Community and Social Planner via email on council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.