Action Plans

Partnership Plan into ActionThe top 6 priorities for Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership for 2008-09 are as follows:

Priority No 1

Criminal Damage
 442 crimes 22.27% (reporting period January 08 – October 08)
National Indicators, Public Service Agreements and Local targets and LAA’sNI 21 dealing with local concerns about ASB and crime by local council and policeNI 27 understanding of local concerns about ASB and crime by local council and policePSA 23 priority 3
Crime DefinitionA person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property belonging to another, intending to destroy or damage any such property, or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged shall be guilty of an offence  A person who without lawful excuse destroys or damages any property whether belonging to himself or another Intending to destroy or damage any property or being reckless as to whether any property would be destroyed or damaged; and Intending by the destruction or damage to endanger the life of another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would be thereby endangered.
Strategic Assessment Summary Criminal damage is often regarded as a low level minor crime; however its results can have a major impact on the sense of safety and ownership felt by residents living in areas suffering from high levels of criminal damage. There is also a widely held belief that areas suffering from high levels of criminal damage are also likely to be hotspots for anti social behaviour and more serious crime. Bridgnorth District Community Safety partnership is committed to addressing not only social disorder but to focus on the physical disorder (Criminal Damage) by working with Bridgnorth District Council Street Scene department to tackle environmental issues. For example, abandoned cars, graffiti litter and rubbish. Bridgnorth District Council has developed procedure to remove hate graffiti within 24 hours.The main hotspots are Bridgnorth East/Castle, Highley, Broseley and Shifnal. Most reported crimes tend to decrease the further from the town/village centres. The main areas of concern for both criminal damage and anti-social behaviour are around the district shopping centres and the play areas that attract younger people.There have been 442 recorded criminal damage reports in Bridgnorth district with 74 having been detected. Criminal damage peaks end of Feb/March.  The next peak period end of May/June.  Rising again at the end of July and peaking in August.  Final peak is at the beginning of October. 
Action Plan
  • Carry out a detailed report and develop an action plan that includes clear actions, priorities and timescales in relation to criminal damage.
  • The action plan should take into account the new powers available in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005
  • Community Safety Team provide support when requested to  the Council Street Scene section in mapping areas of environmental disorder and rubbish abandonment to adapt their resources more efficiently to the benefit of the customer. (Via the use of CADDIE)
  • Support CSO’s in providing Criminal Damage talks in local schools.
  • Support CSO’s and School in litter poster competitions
  • Utilise skills of Police Architectural Liaison Officers to help design out problems and assist in future planning and design at concept stage of new developments.
  • Work with Crucial Crew and Crimestoppers to provide a Criminal Damage Scenario for 800 young people
  • Make contact with Telford Business Watch Scheme
  • BDC are applying for community safety accreditation. This will allow trained security cleared competent staff in uniforms to work across the district, to address and to be proactive against anti social behaviour, street scene and environmental crime.
  • BDC has also agreed with West Mercia Police and the other District Councils in Shropshire to introduce a single ticket for fixed penalty notices in respect of litter offences. (LAA 16)
  • Street Scene Community ‘Spring Clean Campaign’ a street scene initiative introduced by BDC street scene to assist in combating litter in the local community.
  • Tenants litter picks organised by BDC housing section
  • Bridgnorth District Towns and Villages take part in the Heart of England in Bloom competition and Entente Floral which is sponsored by local business and volunteers.
  • Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership funded a range of equipment that includes litter grabs, gloves, hi-visibility vests, bags, dog litter bags and a pavement cleaner.
  • BDC Street Scene section has developed a procedure to remove hate graffiti on assets which the council has powers to deal with within 24 working hours of identification.
  • Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership and BDC Sport Development Team provide diversionary activities for young people during the summer holidays
  • Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership work with Open Space Manager to consult with and provide open space play areas for young people (Big lottery funding for play schemes)
  • Dedicated outreach youth workers to work with young people on a Friday evening in Bridgnorth town. (Part funded by Bridgnorth Community Safety Partnership and led jointly by Youth Services and the Dry Bar)
  • Increase Police patrols at weekends in Bridgnorth Town (Police resource issue)
  • Mobile CCTV set up in hot spot locations
Resources LAA – Stronger Safer Communities Board