In 1986, a meeting was held in Strasbourg (France) at the initiative of the Council of Europe on the role of local policies in the management of urban violence and insecurity.

Conference on the reduction of urban insecurity which led to the creation of the European Forum for Urban Security. The Final Declaration of this conference underlined the importance of "facilitating the exchange of information on crime prevention".

In 1989, the First European and North American Conference on Urban Security and Crime Prevention was held in Montreal, Canada, and was organized by city associations including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the United States Conference of Mayors and the European Forum for Urban Security (EFUS). The Final Declaration noted that "it will be necessary to seek ways and means of pursuing on a permanent basis the exchanges of information initiated in Montreal".

In 1990, the Montreal Urban Community (MUC), with the support of city associations, developed a project to establish an international organization in Montreal with the goal of promoting exchanges and technical cooperation among local authorities to make cities safer. This proposal was submitted to the participants at the Paris Conference.

In 1991, the Final Declaration of the Second International Conference on Security, Drugs and Crime Prevention in Urban Areas held in Paris invited "developed countries to join forces to establish an international centre for crime prevention, in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations, which could become affiliated with it".

 The 1991 Versailles Ministerial Meeting mandated to develop an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme "welcomes the proposal adopted by the Paris Conference for the establishment of an international centre for the prevention of crime".

 In 1992, an ad hoc international working group comprised of representatives from various countries, city associations, United Nations institutes, prevention organizations, and experts met in Montreal, Canada, to discuss the mission, organization, and activities of the future Centre.

In 1993, the governments of Canada, France and Quebec adopted a declaration on the creation of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime in Montreal and, together with the MUC, the FMC and the FESU as well as the Société du centre de conférences internationales de Montréal, agreed to form its constituent Council.

The International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC) was established in 1994 in response to calls for action from local authorities.