The challenge for the audit development team was to deliver on social expectation without under-emphasizing the need to address social forces from the complex interplay between individuals and the institutions of power and control in society. The paper describes the team’s difficulties in gathering data from police officers, analysis of crime data, and the team’s need to “walk the ground.” The team consulted a broad range of individuals and interest groups, and their discussions were generally organized around four central questions: perceptions of the key crime issues in the community, actions or initiatives underway to address those issues, further actions required, and source(s) of leadership in addressing the issues. The team’s methodology endeavored to maximize the depth and breadth of community involvement, both in bringing issues to the table and in discussing possible solutions. The paper concludes that this team’s experience in developing an approach to auditing crime reflects the process probably required in any attempt to develop a strategy to defeat crime in a local community. Notes