The mission

Commision on Local Safety cooperates in order to improve security services as well as assure better safety standards and procedures for all Baltic Sea Region (BSR) citizens.

The problems which seems to be completely solved in some cities still exist in others. Creating the Commission allows not only expand knowledge, but also to gain and share experience. The initiators hope that joint efforts can help to make BSR a safer and tidier place to live.

Current Activities

The 5th meeting of Commission on Local Safety will take place in Tallinn on 24-25 of May 2012. The main topic that will be discussed is "Safety for Seniors", this subject refers to the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. All interested parties are very welcomed, more info: ubc@strazmiejska.gda.pl and Monika.Lestberg@tallinnlv.ee.

Competition

Safety is one of the important needs of a human being, UBC municipalities have done a lot for their citizens to promote and provide a safe environment. Providing safety for our citizens we should not forget young generation, which needs to feel safety on daily basis and this generation may have a good ideas how to improve safety and security.

The UBC Commission on Local Safety has decided to announce "SAFETY & COOL" grant competition for UBC member cities schools and award the initiatives aimed at promotion safety.

Only schools from UBC municipalities are eligible to enter this competition. Each UBC member cities school may submit only one application. Attached please find the rules of participation in the "SAFE & COOL" grant competition together with an application form.

The deadline for submitting projects is 15 September 2012. Completed application should be sent to the UBC Commission on Local Safety Secretariat by e-mail (ubc@strazmiejska.gda.pl) or by fax: +48 58 346 28 11. Should you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Commission on Local Safety Secretariat.

Application Form ( 107.59 KB )

Safe & Cool UBC Competition ( 488.55 KB )

The history

In November 2009 Gdańsk Municipal Guard distributed questionnaires on safety and public order issues amongst UBC members. 34 cities from Baltic Sea Region completed the survey. The research has confirmed that public order and safety were main priorities in the examined cities. Additionally, analysis of findings have showed that safety problems were common and affected all inhabitants of the BSR.

The idea which appeared behind the survey was to work cooperatively, share knowledge in order to deal with the mentioned problems. Municipal Guard of Gdańsk invited all potentially interested BSR cities to start the process of turning the concept into real actions.

The meeting took place on 25-27 March 2010. The conference was attended by representatives from nine cities: Botkyrka (Sweden), Elbląg (Poland), Gdańsk (Poland), Nacka (Sweden), Riga (Latvia), Sopot (Poland), Tukums (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia) and Vilnius (Lithuania).

It was decided that an organization framework was necessary. All participants agreed that establishing the Group within UBC structure must be the first step towards further cooperation. Therefore, the city representatives have signed the Letter of Intent which was presented and officially accepted during the 58^th UBC Executive Board meeting on 4-5 June in Trelleborg.

During the second meeting which was held on 13-15 October in Riga (Latvia) the authorities of the Commission have been elected. Leszek Walczak the Commander of Gdańsk Municipal Guard became a Chairman of the Commission elected for a two year cadence. While Hans-Ivar Swärd, the Security Coordinator of Municipality of Nacka and Andrejs Aronovs, Head of Tourism Policing Section Department of Central District Riga Municipal Police have been elected Vice Chairmen.

Moreover, the Statute of the Commission has been enacted and six additional cities - Jelgava (Latvia), Jurmala (Latvia), Liepaja (Latvia), Panevežys (Lithuania), Kaunas (Lithuania) and Karlstad (Sweden) - became new Members of the Commission, increasing the total number to 15.

History meetings

The fourth meeting in Botkyrka and Nacka, 20-21 October 2011
The third meeting in Vilnius, 13-15 April 2011
The second meeting in Riga, 13-15 October 2010
The first, initial meeting in Gdańsk, 25-27 March 2010

Next meeting

Tallin, 24-25 May 2012

Secretariat

UBC Commission Local Safety
Mr Czesław Dwojak

Straż Miejska w Gdańsku
Elbląska 54/60
80-724 Gdańsk, Poland

ubc@strazmiejska.gda.pl
+48 58 301 30 11 ext. 118
fax: +48 58 346 28 11

Member cities