Periodic Reporting for period 2 - IcARUS (Innovative AppRoach to Urban Security)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-03-01 bis 2023-08-31
IcARUS is an ambitious project aimed at revolutionising the approach to urban security. It seeks to develop innovative tools and practices to create a versatile toolkit that empowers urban security actors to effectively address the challenges they face. At its core, IcARUS offers a comprehensive understanding of urban security issues, promoting a holistic approach to tackling crime, incorporating prevention, sanctions and social cohesion.
Several trends have prompted a reevaluation of traditional urban security methods. These include dwindling confidence in public institutions and democracy, reduced public funding, and the increasing interconnectivity of cities. Recognising the multifaceted nature of crime, security has become more intertwined and complex. The conventional reactive approach to crime, relying on surveillance and deterrence has been questioned for its effectiveness and high costs. Instead, IcARUS advocates for a proactive stance centred on prevention and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. It emphasises crime prevention and the co-production of security as pivotal aspects of urban security policies. IcARUS strives to enhance cities' capacity to anticipate and respond to urban security challenges, develop innovative tools tailored to local contexts, promote multi-stakeholder collaboration, and place citizens at the forefront of urban security policies.
Furthermore, IcARUS is designed with the specific needs and challenges faced by local authorities in mind. It addresses four critical areas: preventing juvenile delinquency, countering radicalization leading to violent extremism, creating and managing safe public spaces, and combating trafficking and organised crime. This innovative approach aims to empower cities to become safer, more resilient and inclusive environments.
Several trends have prompted a reevaluation of traditional urban security methods. These include dwindling confidence in public institutions and democracy, reduced public funding, and the increasing interconnectivity of cities. Recognising the multifaceted nature of crime, security has become more intertwined and complex. The conventional reactive approach to crime, relying on surveillance and deterrence has been questioned for its effectiveness and high costs. Instead, IcARUS advocates for a proactive stance centred on prevention and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. It emphasises crime prevention and the co-production of security as pivotal aspects of urban security policies. IcARUS strives to enhance cities' capacity to anticipate and respond to urban security challenges, develop innovative tools tailored to local contexts, promote multi-stakeholder collaboration, and place citizens at the forefront of urban security policies.
Furthermore, IcARUS is designed with the specific needs and challenges faced by local authorities in mind. It addresses four critical areas: preventing juvenile delinquency, countering radicalization leading to violent extremism, creating and managing safe public spaces, and combating trafficking and organised crime. This innovative approach aims to empower cities to become safer, more resilient and inclusive environments.
WP1: IcARUS applied Design thinking (DT) methodology to develop six customised tools for urban security and crime prevention in six cities (WP3). Continuous monitoring allowed us to identify its limitations and improve it, ensuring its sustainability. These results will benefit other local authorities, associations, researchers, and stakeholders seeking to adapt it for their contexts and challenges.
WP2: The roadmap offers a strategic framework for the project. It encompasses key lessons from the State-of-the-Art Review, the Inventory of Tools, and the Critical Review of 'What Works'. This framework informed the activities in WP3 (design) and WP4 (demonstration), guiding the development and implementation of urban security tools in partner cities.
WP3: The six cities have been supported by IcARUS partners to define, prototype and develop a tool tailored to their specific needs. The decisions regarding tool design direction have been taken by each city, based either on insights from requirements capture research or local agendas and priorities. All cities have developed and validated the Tool concept with their ‘Community of Users.’ Cities are currently finalising developing tool components and prototyping them in order to start the demonstration phase.
The cities are developing a broad range of design solutions—from engagement events and programmes, through new processes and procedures to more technological innovations. While some cities have experience in developing design solutions tailored to their particular needs, others are relatively new to social innovation, DT and citizen-engagement in tool development. Partner cities are benefitting from opportunities to experiment with new methodologies, engage a wider range of stakeholders, understand current problems and develop specific solutions.
WP4: The main goal is to demonstrate the tools developed in WP3. To ensure these tools are ready for local implementation, a demonstration process is needed to test their components, train end-users, and assess their effectiveness. WP4 has initiated a practical work plan with timelines for each activity, a list of participants (end-users, beneficiaries, IcARUs partners, etc.), and a set of indicators to evaluate the six tools.
WP5: Significant progress was made in communication efforts, including a comprehensive strategy with branding tools, videos and research-based factsheets. Website statistics showed strong user engagement and file downloads, affirming the effectiveness. The project expanded its online presence, with successful social media campaigns and active participation in international events to promote its objectives. Additionally, five web conferences covered topics such as gender, DT, citizen participation, discrimination, restorative justice in juvenile delinquency, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among partner cities, experts and key stakeholders.
WP6: The WP6 activities are ongoing, and are being monitored, until completion of the project and the submission of the deliverables.
WP7: The project's progress is continuously monitored and updated, with a focus on maintaining quality, budget efficiency, and transparency. Regular coordination meetings have been held as planned. Furthermore, an amendment was made to replace a partner, adjust activities, and update content. The active involvement of the Expert Advisory Board (EAB) and Consultative Committee of Cities (CCC) has been instrumental in achieving project objectives and ensuring the transferability of results.
WP2: The roadmap offers a strategic framework for the project. It encompasses key lessons from the State-of-the-Art Review, the Inventory of Tools, and the Critical Review of 'What Works'. This framework informed the activities in WP3 (design) and WP4 (demonstration), guiding the development and implementation of urban security tools in partner cities.
WP3: The six cities have been supported by IcARUS partners to define, prototype and develop a tool tailored to their specific needs. The decisions regarding tool design direction have been taken by each city, based either on insights from requirements capture research or local agendas and priorities. All cities have developed and validated the Tool concept with their ‘Community of Users.’ Cities are currently finalising developing tool components and prototyping them in order to start the demonstration phase.
The cities are developing a broad range of design solutions—from engagement events and programmes, through new processes and procedures to more technological innovations. While some cities have experience in developing design solutions tailored to their particular needs, others are relatively new to social innovation, DT and citizen-engagement in tool development. Partner cities are benefitting from opportunities to experiment with new methodologies, engage a wider range of stakeholders, understand current problems and develop specific solutions.
WP4: The main goal is to demonstrate the tools developed in WP3. To ensure these tools are ready for local implementation, a demonstration process is needed to test their components, train end-users, and assess their effectiveness. WP4 has initiated a practical work plan with timelines for each activity, a list of participants (end-users, beneficiaries, IcARUs partners, etc.), and a set of indicators to evaluate the six tools.
WP5: Significant progress was made in communication efforts, including a comprehensive strategy with branding tools, videos and research-based factsheets. Website statistics showed strong user engagement and file downloads, affirming the effectiveness. The project expanded its online presence, with successful social media campaigns and active participation in international events to promote its objectives. Additionally, five web conferences covered topics such as gender, DT, citizen participation, discrimination, restorative justice in juvenile delinquency, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among partner cities, experts and key stakeholders.
WP6: The WP6 activities are ongoing, and are being monitored, until completion of the project and the submission of the deliverables.
WP7: The project's progress is continuously monitored and updated, with a focus on maintaining quality, budget efficiency, and transparency. Regular coordination meetings have been held as planned. Furthermore, an amendment was made to replace a partner, adjust activities, and update content. The active involvement of the Expert Advisory Board (EAB) and Consultative Committee of Cities (CCC) has been instrumental in achieving project objectives and ensuring the transferability of results.
The initial phase of IcARUS focused on research outcomes. These findings have served as a foundation for the practical phase, dedicated to creating six tools addressing urban security issues previously identified. The progress stands at 80% completion, marking a pivotal moment as it involves applying DT methodology (WP1), to design these tools for specific urban security challenges (WP2-3). All city partners have chosen their solutions, and each tool has been presented to the members of the EAB and the CCC.
Moreover, translating theoretical principles into practical applications will enable cities, both IcARUS partner cities and non-partner cities, to assess and potentially reinforce their crime prevention strategies and urban security policies.
IcARUS is dedicated to enhancing the knowledge of EU local practitioners in security and crime prevention while fostering the exchange of experiences regarding the human, social and societal dimensions of security challenges and their resolutions.
The project aims to empower local authorities to grasp the intricacies of security issues, innovate, and propose initiatives involving citizens in the co-production process, all while considering legal, ethical, cost-benefit, and fundamental rights aspects.
Through a co-production process that engages all relevant local stakeholders (public, private, and civil society actors), the project promotes a human-centred approach aligned with the EU Security Union Strategy's "whole-of-society approach to security".
The remaining year of the project will be dedicated to operationalising research findings, practices, tools, and methods collected, with the aim of achieving anticipated results.
Moreover, translating theoretical principles into practical applications will enable cities, both IcARUS partner cities and non-partner cities, to assess and potentially reinforce their crime prevention strategies and urban security policies.
IcARUS is dedicated to enhancing the knowledge of EU local practitioners in security and crime prevention while fostering the exchange of experiences regarding the human, social and societal dimensions of security challenges and their resolutions.
The project aims to empower local authorities to grasp the intricacies of security issues, innovate, and propose initiatives involving citizens in the co-production process, all while considering legal, ethical, cost-benefit, and fundamental rights aspects.
Through a co-production process that engages all relevant local stakeholders (public, private, and civil society actors), the project promotes a human-centred approach aligned with the EU Security Union Strategy's "whole-of-society approach to security".
The remaining year of the project will be dedicated to operationalising research findings, practices, tools, and methods collected, with the aim of achieving anticipated results.