Criminal Damage Initiative 2007/08
East Riding.
Project name and purpose: Operation Community Challenge
Who was involved?
Neighbourhood Action Teams (NAT) which are designed to look at developing projects to reduce crime with local partners. Partners include, Humberside Police, Town & Parish Councils, young people, Schools, Churches, East Riding Councillors, community groups, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and volunteers. This project also works in partnership with Probation Services, Youth Offending Team, East Riding Environmental Operations and East Riding Street Scene.
Dates of project.
December 2007 – December 2008.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Scanning: What alerted you to the problem that this project aimed to address?
Each Neighbourhood Action Team (NAT) identified that criminal damage affected their areas and was confirmed by local crime statistics as the highest reported crime. Local surveys also confirmed that residents feel strongly about criminal damage.
Analysis: What was the cause of the problem? Who is responsible? Who is affected? Where is it located? When does it occur?
The Neighbourhood Action Teams (NATs) felt that the criminal damage was never or not very often cleaned or mended. The NATs felt that a quick response could reduce the number of criminal damage crimes, and encourage reporting of the problem. The criminal damage mainly consisted of graffiti, damaged street furniture and litter. The NATs felt that a majority of the criminal damage was caused by young people (aged 10 – 25) at weekends or evenings. The locations were centred in the main towns of East Riding, including, Beverley, Goole, Driffield, Bridlington, Cottingham, Hessle, Hornsea, Withernsea, Hedon, Brough, Pocklington, and Market Weighton.
Response: What actions were taken to address the findings of the analysis? This may include Prevention, Early Intervention, Enforcement, Support etc.
The (NATs) carried out visual audits to record criminal damage hotspots. We used crime data to highlight any specific hotspots which in most cases matched what the community recorded. The NATs also developed workshops and discussions with young people in schools on criminal damage. Each area has or is planning 2-3 hours of graffiti removal, street mending, litter picking, dissemination of crime prevention advice. East Riding Safe Communities has purchased graffiti removal kits, litter pickers, brushes, paint and all health & safety equipment required for the clean up days. The Operation includes partners with local schools where the young people target high visibility locations. All partners on the project are tasked with a hotspot to clean or mend. The more extensive graffiti and street furniture mending are targeted by East Riding Environmental Operations. Probation Services and Youth Offending Team will be tasked with cleaning up if the damage or graffiti reappears. This will enable us to have a more long term effect. This Operation enables the community to have a say where offenders carry out their community payback and target the hotspots that affect their area.
Assessment: Evidence demonstrating that the response was effective in tackling the targeted problem? Please indicate if any evaluation has taken place and if so, attach the findings.
The first Operation Community Challenge took place on 3rd December 2007 in Hornsea. The Operation was well received and featured in local newspapers. The next Operation Community Challenge is set for 22nd January in Cottingham. Further evidence will be gathered when the operation has been in place longer.
Lessons learned: Important lessons from the project & things you would do differently.
- There were restrictions with the weather. Graffiti cleaning and painting is difficult in the rain. Make sure you warn people that it may be cancelled due to the weather or have some tasks people can do regardless of the weather. You will need plenty of storage space for the equipment.
Contact details
Andrea Turton 01482 391019 andrea.turton@eastriding.gov.uk
Helen Wheeler-Osman 01482 391015 helen.wheeler-osman@eastriding.gov.uk
Last update: Monday, January 21, 2008