2025: Crisis Management Days Conference Proceedings
Security and protection (national security, corporate and information security, disaster risk reduction)

Integrative Approaches to Urban Security: The City of Zagreb’s Strategy for the period 2025-2030 and the Role of Community-Based Prevention

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  • Dunja Zlomislić
Dunja Zlomislić
City of Zagreb, CITY OFFICE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, TRANSPORT, CIVIL PROTECTION AND SECURITY

Published 2025-11-16

Keywords

  • Urban Security,
  • prevention,
  • City of Zagreb,
  • prevention councils,
  • perception of safety,
  • integrated governance,
  • citizen participation
    • ...More
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How to Cite

Zlomislić, D. (2025). Integrative Approaches to Urban Security: The City of Zagreb’s Strategy for the period 2025-2030 and the Role of Community-Based Prevention. Crisis Management Days. Retrieved from https://ojs.vvg.hr/index.php/DKU/article/view/770

Copyright (c) 2025 Dunja Zlomislić

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The paper provides an overview of the strategic approach to urban security using the example of the City of Zagreb and recent international research, to present methodological frameworks and the social and scientific contributions of the urban security concept. By outlining the development process of the Urban Security Strategy for the City of Zagreb for the period 2025–2030, this paper explores key security challenges in contemporary urban environments, including crime, cyber threats, climate risks, and citizens' perceptions of safety. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of an integrated approach, community participation, and the role of local prevention councils. Urban security is increasingly recognized as a crucial component of the sustainable and resilient development of European cities. This approach is encouraged by EU recommendations on strengthening local resilience and risk management. Each city should develop local policies that ensure safe living conditions and an improved quality of life for its citizens. In this context, particular importance is given to prevention councils within city districts as key actors in identifying community needs and implementing safety measures at the level of local self-government. The Urban Security Strategy of the City of Zagreb defines local and regional self-government units as responsible for specific measures, with an obligation to integrate them into local regulations, annual plans, and budgets. The Strategy was adopted by the City Assembly of Zagreb and published in the Official Gazette of the City of Zagreb No. 40/24. The City of Zagreb implements its authority through local and district self-government bodies and municipal administrative services, enabling the implementation of comprehensive and integrated security policies. In this way, the alignment of security measures with local needs and development priorities is ensured.

The Urban Security Strategy of the City of Zagreb incorporates both horizontal and vertical coordination, connecting local stakeholders with national security frameworks.

 

Keywords: urban security, City of Zagreb, prevention, prevention councils, perception of safety, integrated governance, citizen participation

 

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