ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the process of designing crime prevention strategies with residents and community stakeholders in a rural setting, rather than to or for them. The process of implementation suggests that SafeGrowth – a planning and crime prevention methodology to develop a local capacity to solve neighbourhood problems – may contribute not only to crime reductions but also to community development in rural settings. The chapter offers a definition of rurality in Canada and provides context specifically on the North Battleford community in Saskatchewan. The SafeGrowth methodology is outlined and its use in North Battleford explored, along with report of preliminary outcomes. It offers pointers to future directions for crime prevention strategies in rural settings. A perspective from a serving police officer in Scotland outlines the work of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), a multi-agency partnership which works collectively to tackle rural crime.
