Rhondda Cynon Taff
Criminal Damage Initiative 2006/07
In 2006/07 the Home Office funded 10 areas to develop innovative approaches to tackling criminal damage. Of the £500,000, Rhondda Cynon Taff CDRP received £50,000. This report details how the funding was used and summarises the main findings of the evaluation.
Details of the Project
The focus was placed upon a two key aspects in particular the improvement of the environment and tackling the issue of damage caused by the LNE. Both diversionary measures as well as opportunity reduction measures were employed.
Main activities and outcomes
Aim:To reduce damage related to LNE.
Method: Appointment of Town Centre Manager- £7,000
Outcome: The success of appointing a full time town centre manager and establishing pub watches in Aberdare Town centre to focus on reducing alcohol related crime and disorder has resulted in a 21% reduction in criminal damage offences in the area.
Aim:
Method: Extension and Upgrade of Existing CCTV- Tonyrefail Town Centre- £5,000
Outcome: The extension and upgrade has helped deal with the concerns of the community; allowing them to feel safe within the environment. It has also assisted in securing prosecutions of those committing criminal damage. It has been successful both as a form of detection and deterrent. Since the commencement of this initiative there has been almost a 40% reduction in criminal damage offences in the area.
Aim: To reduce the number of incidents relating to vehicle damage in areas where this is a persistent problem.
Method: Enhancing the lighting in the vicinity of the Bowplex Complex at Natgarw- £7,000
Outcome: This area had previously been a particularly troublesome area for anti social behaviour and alcohol related crime including criminal damage. The provision of enhanced lighting in the area which incorporates a multi-screen cinema, a bowling alley and a number of restaurants and light night entertainment establishments has made visitors feel a lot safer and has seen the increase in criminal damage curtailed along with reductions in the number of thefts of and thefts from motor vehicles.
Aim: To reduce crime in current hot-spot areas and use in developing hot-spots.
Method: Street lighting upgrade- Higher intensity street lighting- Remainder of £50
Outcome: Increased higher visibility lighting was introduced in a number of other streets, which had high levels of criminal damage offences recorded during April-August 2006. In the streets selected for lighting improvements a total of 47 criminal damage offences took place during April-June 2006. For the same period of April-June 2007 there were only 19 criminal damage offences recorded. This is a reduction of 28 offences which equates to an almost 60% reduction in the area identified for street lighting.
Key Conclusions :
- Issues relating to other aspects beyond criminal damage have also been tackled alongside it such as anti-social behaviour which is in many instances interlinked with criminal damage.
- The funding has had a positive effect within the CSP with evidence of a decrease in crime rates both relating to criminal damage and relating to violent crime.
- Current financial year to date (April 06-Feb 07) down 4% (-179 crimes) when compared with same period for last year (April 05-February 07).
Contact for further information:
Richard Morgan Regional Adviser (Dyfed-Powys & Gwent) Home Office Crime Team Welsh Assembly Government. richard.morgan@wales.gsi.gov.uk Tel/Ffon: 01685 72(9076) Mobile (Business Only): 07813 099354
Last update: Friday, January 04, 2008