Lichfield Community Safety Strategy
At a time when trust in institutions is fragile, Lichfield District took a bold, human-centred step to redefine what community safety means. Supported by local councils, Bromford Housing, and the Police & Fire Commissioner, Impera led the co-creation of an evidence-based strategy — built from the ground up.
The result: a vision shaped by local voices, recognising that safety is as much about trust and belonging as enforcement. Lichfield sought to bridge the gap between how safe people feel and what’s recorded on paper — asking, how do you design a strategy that responds to what feels safe, not just what looks safe? How do you do it without alienating residents or institutions?
Our Approach
Training citizens as researchers; we trained 16 citizens — people who already knew the streets, the people, the rhythms of neighbourhood life — to lead conversations, gather stories, and ask probing questions.
Deep engagement across the district; these community researchers reached over 100 neighbours across different backgrounds and perspectives. In parallel, a district-wide survey brought in another 161 voices — meaning more than 250 residents shaped what safety would mean in Lichfield.
Synthesis through the 4 Ps; from that rich mix of data and lived experience emerged the 4 Ps of Community Safety, a framework now guiding prevention and planning: People, Places, Programes and Policies.
The Impact
The new, community-led Community Safety Strategy was unanimously approved by elected councillors. As the strategy was co-designed, Lichfield’s leaders put real money behind the vision. Over the coming three years, £400,000+ is being allocated to bring the strategy to life, directly addressing the priorities residents raised.
Some Highlights
A total of £225,000 has been committed to Clean & Green upgrades, creating safer and brighter public spaces, alongside £150,000 invested in parks and open spaces to make them more accessible and family-friendly. Youth activities have received £20,000 to provide positive alternatives, while £5,300 has been allocated to peer mentoring to support reintegration. Additional targeted funding includes £3,000 for dementia wristbands to help keep residents safe, £2,500 for Neighbourhood Watch initiatives to strengthen community ties, and £2,000 for doorstep safety tools to improve safety in homes.
This funding isn’t symbolic — it’s a bold, visible investment in action, directly tied to citizens’ expressed needs.
We also launched a Community Safety Dashboard to ensure transparency and accountability, letting residents watch progress, spot areas needing attention, and see real change unfolding.
The key lessons highlight that safety is strongest when communities co-create solutions and lead rather than simply receive support. Investment should focus on what truly works — places, people, and relationships — grounded in insight rather than assumptions. Clear data and open feedback are essential to building trust and visibility, while long-term, consistent local action is what ultimately drives lasting cultural change.
In redefining safety, Lichfield has shown that we don’t just build safer streets — we build safer communities.