Safe City Liaison Program
Our Safe City Liaison team provides a visible and approachable City of Hobart presence in central Hobart business district.
The team works with local businesses, community members, visitors, Tasmania Police, service providers and other City teams. Our officers listen to concerns, provide information and help connect people and issues with the service best placed to respond.
The Safe City Liaison Program is a three-year trial. It aims to improve safety and perceptions of safety, strengthen business and community connections and help respond to concerns before they escalate.
About the program
The Safe City Liaison Program was developed after reviewing community safety approaches used by other Australian councils.
Rather than directly adopting another city's model, we considered Hobart's needs, the services already operating and the functions the City of Hobart can appropriately provide.
The result is a locally designed program focused on:
- providing a visible and approachable presence
- building relationships with local businesses and the community
- listening to community safety concerns
- providing practical information and reassurance
- identifying concerns early
- connecting people and issues with the right service or response.
The team complements the work of Tasmania Police, contracted security, public safety cameras and community service providers. It does not replace these services.
How the team can help
Safe City Liaison officers will:
- visit and build relationships with local businesses
- listen to community safety and public space concerns
- provide information about City services and local requirements
- provide a visible and approachable presence in public spaces
- support early and respectful engagement where concerns arise
- connect people with community and specialist support services
- refer concerns to the appropriate City service, Tasmania Police, security provider or support organisation
- identify recurring issues and emerging community safety concerns
- record observations and engagement information to support planning and coordinated responses.
Regular business engagement is a key part of the program. The team provides businesses with a consistent City contact for day-to-day safety and amenity concerns and helps direct these concerns to the appropriate service.
How we work
Our officers use an Educate – Engage – Refer approach.
This approach keeps the service practical, respectful and focused on early assistance. It also provides clear boundaries between the work of Safe City Liaison officers and the responsibilities of Police, emergency services, security officers and specialist service providers.
Educate
We provide calm, clear and practical information.
This may include information about:
- City services
- Smoke-free Hobart areas
- local requirements and public space expectations
- reporting options
- community and specialist support services.
Our focus is on awareness and early guidance rather than enforcement. If a matter requires formal compliance action, we refer the information to an authorised City officer.
Engage
We build relationships through visibility, conversation and active listening.
Our officers undertake regular patrols, visit businesses and engage respectfully with people in public spaces. This helps the team understand local concerns, provide reassurance and identify where early assistance may be needed.
Engagement is non-confrontational and guided by the safety of officers and the community. Where appropriate, officers use communication and de-escalation skills to help prevent lower-level concerns from escalating.
Refer
We connect people and concerns with the service best placed to provide assistance.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
- another City of Hobart service
- a housing or homelessness service
- a youth service
- a mental health service
- an alcohol and other drug service
- another community support organisation
- contracted security
- Tasmania Police.
For criminal, urgent or higher-risk matters, officers follow the appropriate Tasmania Police or emergency response pathway.
Our officers record engagements, referrals and emerging themes. This information helps the City understand community needs, identify recurring concerns and improve coordination with partner organisations.
Where the team operates
The team's regular engagement area is central Hobart, with a primary focus on the CBD.
The engagement map shows two operating areas:
- Core engagement area: where officers undertake regular patrols and business engagement.
- Expanded engagement area: where officers may work in response to identified needs, planned activities or stakeholder engagement.
The team may also attend community events, stakeholder meetings, service-provider visits and other locations where this supports the program's work.
Who to contact
Call Triple Zero
Call 000 when:
- life or property is in immediate danger
- a serious accident or crime is occurring
- someone has a serious or life-threatening injury
- urgent Police, fire or ambulance assistance is needed.
Contact Tasmania Police
Call Tasmania Police on 131 444 for non-emergency Police assistance.
This includes matters such as:
- assault
- stealing or attempted stealing
- threats or threatening behaviour
- criminal damage
- suspicious behaviour
- trespassing
- drug use or drug-related concerns
- weapon possession
- traffic incidents.
Contact Safe City Liaison
Contact our Safe City Liaison team for:
- local business support and reassurance
- non-urgent community safety or public space concerns
- help finding the right City service or reporting pathway
- information about City services and local requirements
- connections with community or specialist support services
- concerns about recurring safety or amenity issues in central Hobart.
Email: safecity@hobartcity.com.au
If you are unsure who is responsible for a non-urgent matter, the team can help identify the appropriate service or reporting pathway.
What the team does not do
Safe City Liaison officers are not Police or security officers.
The team does not:
- respond in place of emergency services
- investigate crime
- provide a contracted security service
- provide specialist health, housing or case-management services
- replace authorised City compliance officers
- undertake enforcement outside the officers' authorised functions.
Our officers can provide information, record relevant concerns and refer or escalate matters when another service or authority is responsible.
Working in partnership
Community safety is a shared responsibility.
We work with businesses, community organisations, Tasmania Police, security providers, government agencies and other partners to improve safety and perceptions of safety in Hobart.
The program supports the City's broader commitment to a community where everyone feels safe and secure and can meet their basic needs. It also supports the City's role in connecting the community with information, services and organisations that can help.
About the trial
The Hobart City Council endorsed the Safe City Liaison Program as a three-year trial formally commencing on 1 October 2026.
During the trial, we will evaluate information about:
- community and business perceptions of safety
- the quality and outcomes of referrals
- recurring safety and amenity concerns
- business engagement
- stakeholder confidence and feedback
- opportunities to improve service coordination.
Council will receive annual progress reports. A broader evaluation at the end of the trial will consider the program's effectiveness, value and future direction.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is Safe City Liaison a security service?
No. Safe City Liaison officers are City of Hobart employees who provide community engagement, information, reassurance and referral support. They work alongside Police, security and specialist services but do not replace them.
Can the team respond to crime?
Crime should be reported to Tasmania Police. Call 000 if the matter is an emergency. Call Tasmania Police on 131 444 for non-emergency Police assistance.
Safe City Liaison officers may identify concerns, provide relevant information and refer or escalate matters through the appropriate pathway.
Does the team work with local businesses?
Yes. Regular engagement with businesses is one of the program's main functions. Our officers visit businesses, listen to concerns, provide information and help connect issues with the appropriate City service or partner organisation.
Can the team help someone who needs support?
Our officers can provide information and help connect people with appropriate community and specialist services. This may include housing and homelessness, youth, mental health, alcohol and other drug, and community support services.
Safe City Liaison officers do not provide specialist treatment or ongoing case management.
Does the team issue fines?
The team's primary approach is education, engagement and referral rather than enforcement.
Officers may provide information about City requirements and record concerns.
Matters requiring formal compliance action can be referred to an authorised City officer.
How long will the program operate?
The Safe City Liaison Program has been established as a three-year trial. Council will receive annual progress reports, and the program will be evaluated to inform its future direction.