Community Safety
About Community Safety
In 1998 the Crime and Disorder Act placed a statutory duty on police and local authorities to work together to develop and implement a strategy to tackle crime and disorder. Crime and Disorder strategies now play a vital role in the effort to create a safer place to live.
The South Shropshire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership's (CDRP) vision is:-
'To work together with our communities, to enhance community safety in its widest sense, and to minimise crime and disorder and fear of crime within South Shropshire. In so doing, continue to improve our quality of life by addressing those anti-social issues that affect us all.'
The South Shropshire CDRP has produced a Partnership Plan covering the period 2008-2011 based on the findings of the countywide Strategic Assessment. The Strategic Assessment has shown the top five priority crimes for South Shropshire to be:
Criminal Damage
Burglary
Theft Other
Vehicle Crime
Assault ABH
In addition, community consultation has shown that locally there is a need to tackle Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) and Fear/Perception of Crime.
Criminal Damage
Criminal Damage accounts for 24.04% of the total crime in South Shropshire. The majority of criminal damage in South Shropshire is carried out in the market towns, in particular Ludlow. It more often than not results from ASB associated with alcohol. South Shropshire CDRP has agreed to allocate most of its 2008/09 budget to tackling ASB hotspots and in particular drinking and under-age drinking. A number of initiatives are proposed including -
Diversionary activities, Ludlow and Craven Arms
Dedicated outreach youth work, Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer
Close working with the Young People and Alcohol Project
Issuing of fixed penalty notices and confiscation of alcohol by the Police
Longer opening hours at Ludlow Youth Centre
An Alcohol Exclusion Zone is in progress and due to be in place by May 2008.
Burglary
Burglary accounts for 19.94% of total crime in South Shropshire. All partners are promoting SmartWater throughout the district. It is reported by the Police that, to date, no premises that have SmartWater have been subject to burglary so, anecdotally, it appears to be acting as a deterrent.
SmartWater will continue to be promoted by all partners.The Police will use SmartWater 'curtains' in premises that have been subject to repeat crimes. TPU visits to Ludlow to address non-domestic burglary in shops and offices will continue to be arranged.
The mobile WCCTV camera will be used to monitor hotspot areas. CCTV will be used to actively target individuals. Police will monitor known prolific burglars.
Theft - Other
Other theft of personal property covers thefts where no force is used and the victim is not holding or carrying the items when they are stolen, for example thefts of unattended property in the workplace. Theft in a dwelling includes thefts that occurred in the victim's dwelling, but the offender was entitled to be there. Theft from outside dwelling covers incidents where items are stolen from outside the victim's home. The category also includes burglaries to non-connected buildings, e.g. garden sheds.
SmartWater is being promoted. Wheelie bin stickers have been placed on bins reminding residents to secure their property. Press releases have been issued. Police regularly update Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators.
Vehicle Crime
A large amount of vehicle crime is damage to vehicles, often caused by persons who have been drinking and this will be targeted as detailed under criminal damage. Other vehicle related crime is theft (or attempted theft) from vehicles. Community Support Officers will target vehicles with valuables on display. Registration numbers of these vehicles will be taken and the Police will write to the registered keepers with information and advice on vehicle safety.
Assault ABH
Yet again this is closely linked to alcohol consumption and the steps details above under criminal damage will be put in place to help solve this problem.
In addition, support will be given to the Women's Refuge and Women's Aid workers.
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
An action plan has been drawn up to tackle ASB. The action plan shows the projects, objectives and potential outcomes of the initiatives planned. They show which partner has ownership of and responsibilities for each project and includes timetables, resources etc.
Fear of Crime
Fear of crime and perception of crime has a high impact on quality of life. Although South Shropshire has a low crime rate and is one of the safest places in the country to live, the fear and perception of crime is high and is fuelled by media coverage of crime in other areas.
Tackling these perceptions is not easy and press releases and other awareness raising is carried out. Work is also carried out specifically with older and vulnerable people to reduce the fear of crime.
You can help us identify hot spots for petty vandalism and crime so that we can determine local trends. Although SSDC cannot act on individual crimes we can look at the trends and work with partners on the South Shropshire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) to target 'hotspots'.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
All serious crime should be reported to the police on 08457 444 888 and this bulletin board does not replace the direct line to the police.
In an EMERGENCY dial 999
See these pages for related information:
- Information and guidance
- Alley gating
- Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership
- Crime & Disorder Reduction Strategy
- Partnership Plan
- CDRP Agendas
- Community Safety Fund
- Equal Opportunities Policies
- Hate Crime
- Planning Out Crime
- Report a Hate Crime
- Safer, Stronger Community Fund
- Smartwater - deter burglars
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: regeneration. Last Updated: 9/5/2008.
