The Congress, bearing in mind the proposal of the Chamber of Local Authorities,

1. Bearing in mind Resolution CPL (7) 6 on Crime and Urban Insecurity in Europe: the Role and Responsibilities of Local Authorities;

2. ASKS NATIONAL AUTHORITIES PARTICULARLY TO:

3. Take into account the proposals contained therein, when formulating national policies for crime reduction and prevention;

4. Accept that local authorities have a key role to play in crime prevention and reduction and accordingly strengthen local government responsibilities and resources allocated to local authorities to this effect;

5. Promote, in countries where they are deemed the best solution, the development of municipal police, with clear legislative responsibilities and adequate resources to function in a practical manner, in the belief that they have an important role to play in crime prevention;

6. Develop social, economic and employability programmes which are designed to give people, particularly younger people, genuine career prospects and a clear stake in society;

7. Reinforce trans-border cooperation on crime prevention and crime control between local and regional authorities, particularly removing the legal and administrative obstacles which prevent local, regional, and police authorities from coping effectively with trans-border crime;

8. Promote the establishment of bi or multinational treaties which enable local and regional authorities and the police to combine their efforts and to make agreements on trans-border crime prevention and/or prosecution;

9. ASKS THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO:

10. Continue to support and promote the establishment of a European Bureau or observatory for crime reduction;

11. Prepare a report on crime reduction policies in member countries and organise a debate on the subject;

12. Develop activities concerning urban policies as part of its future work programme.

13. ASKS THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS TO:-

14. Recognise that it has a major role in defining and helping to conduct policies for crime prevention, reduction and control in Europe; and accordingly strengthen the resources allocated to this question;

15. Encourage member countries who have not yet done so to sign and ratify existing Conventions and other international instruments on crime reduction and combating crime;

16. Ensure that crime reduction is not used by national authorities as a reason or pretext for suspending respect of existing international agreements on human rights and freedom of movement;

17. Encourage the establishment of municipal police in member countries and to this effect, ask the relevant intergovernmental structures to carry out work on this subject with a view to the formulation of legislative and policy proposals in this context;

18. Recognise the significant role played by relevant non-governmental organisations and accordingly strengthen cooperation with them;

19. ASKS THE EUROPEAN UNION TO:

20. Consider in a positive manner the recent proposals contained in the Opinion of the Committee of Regions including, for example, the establishment of a European Centre for Crime Prevention;

21. Ensure that in the process of enlargement, the strengthening of policies and resources for crime prevention and control is accorded a high priority in applicant and, indeed, existing member countries.