Criminal Damage Initiative 2006/07
Stevenage
In 2006/07 the Home Office funded 10 areas to develop innovative approaches to tackling criminal damage. Of the £500,000, Stevenage CDRP received £50,000. This report details how the funding was used in Stevenage and summarises the main findings of the evaluation.
Details of the Project.
Stevenage Community Safety Partnership designed a project to tackle criminal damage related to alcohol and anti social behaviour in residential areas immediately surrounding the town centre. The project focused on intelligence gathering, enforcement and prevention work.
Main activities and outcomes.
Aim: Intelligence gathering and visible presence.
Activity: High visibility and intelligence led patrols were undertaken by Ward Constables, Special Constables and Police Community Support Officers. Patrols took place between 16.00 and 00.00. Further intelligence was gathered through Neighbourhood Watch, local Tenants and Residents Associations, ‘Community Crew’ and ‘street meets’ with local residents.
Outcome: Residents are feeling reassured and young people have given positive feedback. There is continual monitoring to enhance this initiative and the sustainability of the project.
Aim: Challenge the binge drinking culture with an awareness campaign.
Activity: An intensive and high profile awareness campaign used ICT, posters, leaflets, text messages and an educational DVD plus support from college staff to raise awareness and promote messages about the risks and consequences of binge drinking and criminal damage. This was then followed up with an online awareness survey.
Outcome: Over a 6 week period during the course of the project between Mid February and end of March 2007, ICT desk top messages on students computers at the Stevenage North Herts College Campus recorded 10,780 views in respect of consequences of criminal damage and crime resulting in 155 clicks to other topic related linked websites where additional information could be found. Alcohol information resulted in 6,131 views and 34 clicks, drugs information 9522 views and 85 clicks and bullying 9,821 views and 106 clicks. The crime vandalism / damage information created the highest amount of interest. The anti criminal damage DVD is being produced as part a student work project and will be completed before the end of the autumn term.
Aim: Preventing alcohol related criminal damage, Anti-Social Behaviour and violence linked with the Night Time Economy (Licensing Project).
Activity: Fund CCTV monitoring in taxis as part of a pilot scheme. Use of CCTV on key town centre exit routes. Use Pub Watch forum to promote awareness of the link between alcohol and criminal damage.
Outcome: 36 cameras have now been installed in taxi cabs; there has already been a reported increase in reassurance of both passengers and taxi drivers subscribing to the project. The evaluation will pick up the impact of this scheme in greater detail. Under their barred from one barred from all regime, Pub watch will bar from all licensed premises anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs who cause criminal damage to property.
Aim: Target the privately owned leisure park that has a high level of criminal damage and is not covered by the council CCTV and improve relations between the stakeholders involved.
Activity: The installation of a new CCTV camera in a blind spot which links Bedwell to the city centre.
Outcome: The camera was installed in August the impact will be captured in the six month and one year post project impact year evaluations.
Aim: Situational Crime Prevention Activity: Dispersal of young people gathering through the installation of a mosquito box.
Outcome: This work is linked to installation of improved lighting and additional light columns in the local neighbourhood shopping area in Bedwell works are currently under way to be completed by the end of the month.
Key Conclusion:
There was a 27.7% reduction in criminal damage when comparing the period in which the project was delivered (January to March 2007) with the previous year (January to March 2007). This summary will be updated once more detailed evaluation of the project is received.
Contact for further information:David Loader, Community Safety Manager, Stevenage Borough Council, Tel: 01438 242191
Home Office Criminal Damage Reduction: Criminal.Damage@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Last update: Thursday, January 10, 2008