Goal 1 Crime Prevention

Goal CS-1: Strengthen partnerships with the Hayward community to develop strategies and solutions that prevent crime.

In general, three factors come together when a crime occurs: a criminal, a target (either a person or property), and an opportunity to commit the crime with a relatively low risk of getting caught.  Crime prevention strategies are generally designed to remove (or reduce) one or more of the three factors.  For example, the number of criminals can be reduced, not only by arrests and prosecutions, but also by intervention programs that direct at-risk youth and adults towards positive activities and opportunities.  The number of targets can be reduced by educating people about how to avoid dangerous situations, such as going out alone at night, parking in an unsupervised area, and leaving valuable belongings in a car.  Opportunities to commit crime can also be reduced by increasing human activity on streets and public spaces, and by siting and designing buildings to allow people to monitor outside activity.  Technology, such as surveillance cameras and alarms, can aid in crime prevention by increasing the criminal’s perceived risk of getting caught.  This goal and its supporting policies are designed to promote a safer community by developing community partnerships and strategies to prevent crime.  The policies are specifically designed to prevent crime by reducing one or more of the three factors of crime (criminal, target, or opportunity). 

Additional policies that can help prevent crime are also provided in other elements of the General Plan, especially the Health and Quality of Life Element, the Economic Development Element, and the Education and Lifelong Learning Element.

The City shall coordinate with residents, businesses, schools, park districts, and community and neighborhood organizations to develop and expand partnerships to prevent crime.  [Source: New Policy, City Staff; GPUTF; Public]

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)Public Information (PI)

The City shall maintain and consider new Police Department programs that support residents and businesses in their efforts to prevent crime and improve neighborhood safety, such as Hayward Neighborhood Alert, Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch, Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, and Synchronized Multi-Agency Safe Housing (SMASH). 

City Services and Operations (CSO)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)Public Information (PI)

The City shall coordinate with school districts to maintain and further develop Police programs, services, and strategies that keep children and teens out of gangs and involved in positive activities. 

City Services and Operations (CSO)

The City shall maintain a comprehensive gang enforcement strategy, including a gang-injunction program, to reduce gang activity throughout the city. 

City Services and Operations (CSO)

The City shall coordinate with school districts to provide services that help at-risk youth escape the path of crime, such as on-site counseling, crisis intervention services, emergency hotlines, case management services, job and internship opportunities, and recreation programs. 

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)

The City shall coordinate with park districts, youth organizations, faith-based organizations, and community centers to provide recreation and after-school programs that deter children and young adults from crime and foster a greater sense of civic engagement. 

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)

The City shall coordinate with schools, colleges, businesses, and neighborhood and community groups to develop, promote, and/or sponsor awareness campaigns about various crimes, including burglaries, child abuse, bullying, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, fraud, and identity theft.

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)Public Information (PI)

The City shall coordinate with local school districts, parent-teacher organizations, and community centers to educate residents (especially children and seniors) about the dangers they could encounter on the and how to avoid them. 

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)Public Information (PI)

The City shall continue to include the Police Department in the review of development projects to promote the implementation of principles.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall encourage property owners to use appropriate levels of exterior lighting to discourage criminal activity, enhance natural surveillance opportunities, and reduce fear.  

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

The City shall encourage and support the use of technology (such as private surveillance cameras, deployed public camera systems, theft-prevention devices, emergency call boxes, alarms, and motion-sensor lighting) to discourage crime. 

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)Public Information (PI)

The City shall require conditions of approval related to the provision of on-site security and safety measures for bars, nightclubs, live entertainment businesses, and related uses. Conditions of approval shall promote a healthy balance of public safety and nightlife vibrancy, and may include surveillance cameras, crowd management practices, and on-site security staff.

Regulation and Development Review (RDR)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)

The City shall coordinate with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD) and East Bay District (EBRPD) to address crime and safety concerns within Hayward parks. 

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)

The City shall coordinate with community organizations to develop and maintain a comprehensive system of services to alleviate homelessness, panhandling, and related public safety concerns.

Inter-governmental Coordination (IGC)Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)

The City shall maintain and implement programs that address conditions that foster crime or the fear of crime, such as blight, litter, graffiti, illegal dumping, and abandoned vehicles. 

City Services and Operations (CSO)

The City shall develop outreach programs to help break down cultural barriers that discourage immigrants from contacting the police to report crimes and public safety concerns. 

City Services and Operations (CSO)