Criminal Damage initiative 2006/07
Sheffield
In 2006/07 the Home Office funded 10 areas to develop innovative approaches to tackling criminal damage. Of the £500,000, Sheffield CDRP received £50,000. This report details how the funding was used in Sheffield and summarises the main findings of the evaluation.
Details of the Project.
The focus was placed upon improving visibility and reassurance element of the Partnership’s action plan in these areas and ensuring added value to other initiatives within the three hotspot areas was also key. Three areas were selected, based on a range of information & knowledge of past actions. The range of activities undertaken was adapted through the life of the project through intelligence gained.
Main activities and outcomes.
Aim: To provide regular updated analysis to support targeted patrols and offender packages.
Activity: Additional analytical/intelligence support.
Outcome: Problem Profile produced; subsequently able to identify key troubled areas and times and send out patrols at such times (though resource matching is required).
Aim: To target hot spot areas and provide reduction information/prevention and public reassurance.
Activity: Additional targeted patrols guided by analysis This included, in the City Centre, extra police officer and PCSO patrols in parking areas to ‘meet and greet’.
Outcome: Not quantified.
Aim: To identify preventative actions and to deter false reporting.
Activity: Multi-agency visits to repeat/problematic addresses. However problem profile did not identify significant issue of repeat locations.
Outcome: Victims given reassurance and crime prevention advice.
Aim: Target hardening/environment improvement.
Activity: Various activities undertaken to tackle environmental factors which encourage criminal damage offences and encourage pride in each of the areas, including sacrificial coatings to mitigate graffiti damage; improved lighting in areas where youths could hide and throw things; fencing and cutting back of hedges; and environmental clean-up.
Outcome: Not quantified.
Aim: Education / Diversion of young people on matters relating to Criminal Damage.
Activity: Structured, accredited football coaching; half tem football; detached Youth Workers & Young Offenders’ Team provision some evenings.
Outcome: Not quantified.
Key Conclusions
- There was a reduction in criminal damage in one of the three areas selected.
- Some benefits may be longer term, e,g. in improved partnership working and in increased intelligence through engaging with the community
- Clearer linking of activities to specifically identified problems may have helped focus on those most likely to succeed.
Contact for further information:
Jo O’ Shea, Senior Research Officer, Leeds, 0113 3412805
Home Office crime reduction team: criminal.damage@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Last update: Friday, January 04, 2008