Criminal Damage
Case study: Operation Teamwork
Lead agency: Tamworth Community Safety Partnership
Partners: Staffordshire Police, Tamworth Borough Council, resident group, youth services
Location: Kerria Centre, Tamworth (first operation)
Dates: September 2005 (first operation)
Summary: A two day, multi agency operation addressed criminal damage and antisocial behaviour in an area of Tamworth. It aimed to make people feel safer, generate community activity and maintain activity after the two days. The operation resulted in reductions in Criminal Damage and Antisocial Behaviour, reductions in graffiti, improved lighting and visibility. It also acted as a catalyst for ongoing work in the area and a blueprint for similar operations.
The problem
- Kerria Centre, a housing area in Tamworth was identified as having the highest level of crime and disorder in the area and high levels of deprivation. An analysis of recorded crime and the results of a residents survey identified high levels of criminal damage and antisocial behaviour in the area. Back to top
Action taken
- The results of the analysis were presented at a meeting with representatives from the Police, Community Support Officers, Special Constables, Street Wardens, Community Safety managers, Anti Social Behaviour Officers, Grounds Maintenance Teams, Street Cleansing Teams, Council Enforcement Officers, Housing Officers, Highways Agency, Lighting Engineers, Education Welfare Officers, Youth Services, Trading Standards, Fire and Rescue Services, Neighbourhood Watch Managers, Victim Support Managers and Environmental Health Officers.
- A focus group then drew up a timetable of events for a two day activity which incorporated an exit strategy to ensure the outcomes were sustainable.
- A mobile police station was placed in the target area to be used as a base for all partner agencies. In the two days:
- street lighting was repaired or replaced
- trees and bushes were pruned back by the council
- truancy sweeps were conducted by education and welfare teams
- graffiti was removed by the council caretaking team
- abandoned vehicles were removed by the environmental team
- high visibility police foot and cycle patrols were undertaken in the area with visits made to schools, shops and businesses
- police visited priority offenders
- repeat victims were visited by victim support and police officers
- test purchases were conducted by trading standards
- the youth service ran focused evening activities. Back to top
What happened as a result?
- Environmental Visual Audits showed a reduction in graffiti, lighting issues, overgrown trees and bushes, abandoned cars , rubbish and flytipping.
- Comparing data before and after the operation, Antisocial Behaviour decreased by 34% and Criminal Damage by 55%.
- The partners agreed that activity would continue in the area and responsibility for this would sit with the regeneration team who have regular meetings with a residents action group and co-ordinate work with the youth services.
- The Community Safety Partnership in Tamworth has since timetabled Operation Teamwork on a quarterly basis and uses police and partner data to make decisions on the target for each operation. Back to top
What made it work?
- The willingness of partners to get involved and the hard work of the key workers on the day made it a success. Since starting, the operation has developed and evolved with more public consultation informing the activities that take place. Back to top
Last update: Thursday, June 28, 2007
