Welcome to the latest edition of Community Safety eUpdate.

News

New R 'n' R centre tackles
violent crime in Burnley

Burnley Community Safety Partnership are piloting a project aimed at tackling violent crime. A report by Lancashire Constabulary’s Pennine Divisional Intelligence Unit evaluated violent crime offences in the Division between over a 12 month period, and identified problem areas, repeat offenders, locations and victims.

Town centre shop premises have taken by the Borough’s MAPS (Multi-Agency Problem Solving) team, placed in the key location identified in the profile and open in the key hours it indicated.

The “R ‘n’ R (Retreat and Recover) Centre” provides a place of safety for people feeling vulnerable, getting them off the street and reducing the chances of their becoming victims of robberies or assaults.  It also allows town centre users to interact with a range of agencies under one roof. The Centre allows health professionals to provide emergency treatment if required on Friday and Saturday evenings until 3am in the morning. There are plans to expand opening times.  Successes to date include a 26% reduction in violent alcohol related offences and a drop in teenage pregnancies of up to 40%.
More information: Phil Hutchinson

MAPS team Co-ordinator

Phil.hutchinson@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

Conference sets tone for delivery of
Youth Crime Action Plan

A collaborative approach to delivering the Youth Crime Action Plan was the focus for a recent event for 12 local authority partnerships and stakeholders led by Government Office North East and the Youth Justice Board...

Read more here

New Domestic Violence Guide
for Friends and Family

A new guide to help victims of domestic violence shows how friends and family can recognise if someone is suffering from domestic violence. It also gives information on practical support, including details ofdomestic violence charities and support groups.

Copies (including Welsh language versions) from 0870 241 4680 quoting domestic violence ZCard.

Read the leaflet here

Justice Seen, Justice Done campaign launches

The Justice Seen, Justice Done campaign will be launched in March. The first stage of the campaign will raise public awareness about the Policing Pledge. Communications will direct people to www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge to find out what the police promise under the pledge. This is part of the government's response to the Casey Review about how we can best build confidence in how crime is tackled and justice delivered.

Read more

Passport anti-fraud measure comes to
UK's smaller communities

A secure videolink allowing first time passport applicants to be interviewed by trained staff hundreds of miles away is rolling out to smaller communities and islands in Scotland, England and Wales.

The hi-tech link follows the introduction of 68 interview offices set up over the last 18 months to interview first-time adult passport applicants face-to-face.

Praise for crime reduction in Brixton

The Josephine Avenue Group in Brixton was praised for its work tackling crime during a visit from Government crime adviser Louise Casey and Victims' Champion Sara Payne.

Josephine Avenue had been blighted by street prostitution, drug dealing, fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles and poor street lighting. The Group works with police and Lambeth Council to deal with neighbourhood problems.

Read more

Invitation to Induction Workshop for new CDRP/CSP Executive Board Members

The Home Office is holding a workshop on 7th April in London to help devise content for anInduction DVD for new CDRP/CSP Executive Board Members. The Home Office is seeking input from 12-15 volunteers (preferably existing executive board members or Community Safety Managers) from across partnerships. We anticipate filming will happen over the summer.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Alex.Birtwistle@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk by 30th March. If you can't attend you can give your opinions by responding to a brief questionnaire - contact chaz.akoshile@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk by 16th March.

More time for police to spend on the beat

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced the next step in common sense policing by scrapping a police timesheet freeing up an estimated 260,000 police hours to focus on cutting crime and driving up public confidence.

Read more

ACMD Ecstasy review

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recently considered that a review of ecstasy would be timely as there is a much greater body of evidence regarding the harms and misuse of ecstasy since the Council last provided its advice to Ministers in 1996.

The council submitted 13 recommendations of which the Home Office has accepted 11. A letter from Home Office Minister Alan Campbell to the ACMD outlines the Home Office response.

Home Office minister Alan Campbell said: ‘Ecstasy can and does kill unpredictably. The government has a duty to protect the public and firmly believes that ecstasy should remain a Class A drug. As the ACMD says, the long-term effects of ecstasy use cannot be ruled out. We are not prepared to send a message to young people that we take ecstasy less seriously.’

A copy of the review can be found here.

Operation Staysafe - helping protect young people who are out late at night

Police and children's services in 27 areas of England are cooperating in Operation Staysafe as part of the Youth Crime Action Plan. Weekend police patrols are part of a coordinated effort to protect vulnerable children and to reassure the public that they are dealing with issues of local concern.

The operation identifies young people out late at night and at risk of becoming a victim of crime or being drawn into criminal behaviour. They are taken to a place of safety from where they are returned to parents or guardians.

Read more

Safer Walsall Question Time
brings partners to the public

Walsall Safer Partnership held a Face the Public event badged "Safer Walsall Question Time" as part of a Week of Action rolled out across the Local Neighbourhood Partnership areas.

Over 100 residents debated numerous issues from security in local parks and drug dealing to the credibility of the Safer Partnership.

For more contact Steve Gittins

Sara Payne appointed Victims' Champion

Child protection campaigner Sara Payne has been appointed as the government's new Victims' Champion. Working with support groups and neighbourhood crime and justice coordinators, she will be an independent voice for victims and witnesses of crime. The year-long advisory post will prepare the foundations for the new position of Victims and Witnesses Commissioner planned for 2010.

Read more

Not in My Neighbourhood Week 2009 dates

This year's Not in My Neighbourhood Week will take place from 2nd - 6th November. Last year the week saw local partners from every region across England and Wales running activities to showcase the work that is being done to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Read more

New FRANK Cannabis campaign

A new cannabis advertising campaign targeting 11-18 year olds launched on the 16th February. Following on from last month's cannabis reclassification, the FRANK branded campaign, focuses on the mental health harms associated with the drug.

Find out more about the FRANK Cannabis campaign

Campaign timings:

• TV 16 Feb - 29 Mar (TV advertising on ITV, Channel 4, Five and satellite channels)
• Radio 19 Feb to 29 Mar (radio is being broadcast on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
• Online 23 Feb to 31 Mar (social networking and lifestyle sites)

Young People Grow Up
 

A landlord in Happisburgh, North Norfolk reported that an 86 year old man was the victim of the anti social behaviour of 2 teenagers.  Several incidents were indicated over time and Stage 1 letters were sent to the teenagers.  The teenagers admitted anti social behaviour – but from 2 years earlier.  One said he’d “grown up now”.  This was confirmed when the Safer Neighbourhood Team investigated the report.

Letters of apology were issued with a reassurance that the incident would not cause any issues with the teenager’s future careers.  The Partnership moved very quickly when responding to referrals regarding vulnerable people and when it was feared that a mistake had been made.  It was reminded that reports may not always be what they seem and that young people causing anti social behaviour can grow up and become valuable members of their community.

Community Crime Fighters

The Government is investing £5 million over the next two years in the Community Crime Fighters scheme. The scheme will provide active community members with training, information and support to work with neighbourhood policing teams and local authorities to help make communities safer.

Community Crime Fighters Action Line for questions and advice: 0800 197 2965

Read more

Violence Against Women and Girls:
consultation launch

This month the Home Secretary will launch a consultation which is intended to raise awareness, discussion and debate on how we, together with the public, can end violence again women and girls and overcome its debilitating effects.
We are keen to engage with all sectors of society, with men and women, local and national organisations and local authorities. Regional stakeholder events will take place across the country between March, April and May. If you like to attend an event you can register at www.endviolenceagainstwomenconsultation.co.uk. There will also be a single-decker bus tour which will visit local shopping centres, universities, sports grounds and train stations. This is intended to enable a truly public debate on this issue. For more information, please visit www.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk/keepwomensafe after 9 March.

News in the Regions
Featured Region
North East

New "Balance" alcohol office
launched in North East

The UK's first regional alcohol office - known as Balance - was launched in the North East in February to tackle the issues associated with drinking culture. It aims to inspire changes in drinking habits to reduce consumption, whilst enabling people to have a good time. PCTs, local authorities and three police forces are taking a coordinated approach to problems associated with alcohol misuse.
Read more here

To read about news in your region click the relevant link below.

Regional Links: NW | NE | Y&H | SW | EM | WM | SE | EAST | LON | WALE