European Forum for Urban Security

The European Forum for Urban Security, commonly known as Efus, is a non-governmental organisation and city network focused on urban security, crime prevention and social cohesion. It was established in Barcelona in 1987 under the auspices of the Council of Europe. Rather than operating as a commercial security provider, Efus works primarily as a platform through which European cities and other local authorities exchange experience, coordinate projects and influence public policy. Efus promotes a broad understanding of security. Its approach combines crime prevention, social cohesion, democratic accountability and proportionate sanctions instead of treating security solely as a policing or enforcement issue. The organisation seeks to strengthen local crime-prevention policies and to increase the role of municipalities in national and European discussions about security. Its work is based on the principle of cities helping cities: members compare approaches, share practical knowledge and cooperate on responses to common urban challenges. The network has been described as bringing together more than 250 local authorities in 16 European countries. It has developed national forums in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, while also working with local authorities in a majority of European Union member states. Activities include EU-funded exchange projects, training programmes, technical-assistance missions, policy advocacy and support for members seeking European funding. Through these activities, Efus connects municipal officials, practitioners, researchers, civil-society organisations and policymakers. Efus also participates in international crime-prevention and safer-cities networks. It has consultative status in crime-prevention work involving the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Commission, and is associated with the Civil Society Forum on Drugs. It assists the European Union Crime Prevention Network and is a founding member and secretary of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime. It has also served as the European regional vice-president of the Global Network on Safer Cities led by UN-Habitat. Beyond Europe, it has supported the development of comparable forums in Africa and Latin America. The organisation communicates its policy positions through conferences, manifestos and guidance on issues such as democratic security, prevention and the responsible use of closed-circuit television. Its 2012 Security, Democracy and Cities conference and related manifesto work sought to articulate a common European agenda for prevention. Efus has also used initiatives such as Sharing the Manifesto to disseminate these principles among cities and partners. In 1998, it received an honorary award from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Efus is governed through an Executive Committee representing member cities. The committee is elected by the member cities, and the network has historically been chaired by municipal political leaders. Its institutional model reflects its central purpose: enabling local authorities to shape security policy collectively while maintaining links with national, European and international institutions.

The European Forum for Urban Security was created in Barcelona in 1987 under the auspices of the Council of Europe. Its formation reflected growing interest in giving municipalities a stronger role in crime prevention and urban security. Efus developed as a network rather than as a conventional service company, providing a framework in which local authorities could exchange practical experience and jointly advocate for prevention-oriented public policy. The organisation's central philosophy is that urban security should balance prevention, social cohesion and sanctions. It argues that local government is essential because municipalities are close to residents, understand local conditions and can coordinate policing, social services, education, public health, housing and community organisations. Efus therefore seeks both to improve local practice and to ensure that the local perspective is represented in national and European policy debates. Over time, Efus expanded its network across Europe and helped establish national forums in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. It has worked with local authorities in most European Union member states and has been described as representing more than 250 cities and other local authorities in 16 countries. Its operating model is based on peer exchange: cities share methods, compare outcomes and collaborate on common projects rather than relying on a single standardised security model. Its practical work has included EU-funded exchange programmes, professional training, technical assistance and help with applications for European funding. These activities have addressed the broader field of urban security and prevention, allowing members to work across municipal departments and with civil-society partners. Efus also represents local-government interests before European and international institutions. The forum has developed a substantial international role. It holds consultative standing in crime-prevention contexts involving the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Commission. It is connected with the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, assists the European Union Crime Prevention Network and was a founding member and secretary of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime. In the safer-cities field, it has represented Europe within the Global Network on Safer Cities associated with UN-Habitat. It has also supported efforts to develop related urban-security forums in Africa and Latin America. A visible part of Efus's public work has been its conferences and policy statements. The 2012 Security, Democracy and Cities conference addressed the future of prevention and contributed to the organisation's manifesto-based advocacy. Earlier international events included the 2006 conference in Zaragoza, while the Naples Manifesto and the Sharing the Manifesto initiative helped circulate Efus's principles among cities and partner organisations. These materials emphasised democratic accountability, prevention, social inclusion and cooperation between local authorities. Efus has also engaged with specific governance questions, including the use of CCTV. Its public position has favoured responsible and proportionate surveillance within a wider prevention framework, rather than treating technology as a substitute for social policy or democratic oversight. Governance is exercised through an Executive Committee composed of member cities and elected annually by the network's member cities. The committee has been led by municipal representatives, including Guilherme Pinto in an earlier period and Willy Demeyer, mayor of Liège, in the leadership described by the reference material. This structure reinforces Efus's identity as a city-based association. Its continuing role is to connect local authorities, researchers, practitioners and international institutions around collaborative approaches to urban security and crime prevention.

• 2012

  Security, Democracy and Cities conference

  [1]European Forum for Urban Securityen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation convened a conference on the future of prevention and developed associated manifesto work.

• 2006

  International conference in Zaragoza

  [1]European Forum for Urban Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Efus held an international conference in Zaragoza focused on urban security and prevention.

• 1998

  United Nations Human Settlements Programme recognition

  [1]European Forum for Urban Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Efus received an honorary award from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme.

• 1987

  European Forum for Urban Security established

  [1]European Forum for Urban Securityen.wikipedia.org

  Efus was established in Barcelona under the auspices of the Council of Europe to strengthen the role of local authorities in crime prevention and urban security.

A non-governmental, city-led policy network advocating prevention, social cohesion, democratic governance and proportionate enforcement as complementary elements of urban security.

• Peer learning

  City-to-city exchange projects

  Collaborative programmes allow member cities and local authorities to compare prevention policies, share operational experience and develop common responses to urban-security challenges. Many exchanges are organised through European Union-funded projects and follow Efus's cities-helping-cities approach.

• Capacity building

  Training programmes

  Efus organises training and professional-development activities for local authorities, practitioners and partner organisations. The programmes support practical understanding of crime prevention, social cohesion, democratic security and cooperation across municipal services.

• Advisory services

  Technical assistance missions

  Technical-assistance work helps local authorities assess security challenges, design prevention policies and strengthen implementation. Efus's advisory orientation connects municipal needs with European expertise, funding opportunities and lessons from other cities.

• Policy advocacy

  Manifestos and policy guidance

  Efus publishes or supports policy statements, conference conclusions and manifestos on democratic urban security and prevention. These materials provide a common language for municipalities and advocate a balance between social cohesion, prevention, sanctions and accountable technology use.

• 2012Security, Democracy and Cities: The Future of Prevention

  Europe

  A major Efus conference and policy initiative examining how democratic governance, prevention and urban security should interact.

  Outcome. The initiative contributed to manifesto and advocacy work presenting a shared prevention-oriented agenda for cities.

  Source
• Sharing the Manifesto

  Europe

  An initiative to circulate Efus manifesto principles among local authorities and partners and encourage cities to engage with the network's approach to security and prevention.

  Source

• Advocacy for responsible CCTV useStrategy

  Background

  The expansion of video surveillance created questions about proportionality, privacy and democratic control in local security policy.

  Action taken

  Efus leadership called for CCTV to be used responsibly and situated within a broader crime-prevention and democratic-governance framework.

  Source

1. 1European Forum for Urban Securityen.wikipedia.org
2. 2European Forum for Urban Security official websiteefus.eu