Community Safety Audit
Audit and Consultation in the District of Bridgnorth
Under the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) and more recently the Police Reform Act (2002), the Partnership is required to undertake an audit of crime, disorder and substance misuse every three years to build a picture of crime in the District. In 2004 the Partnership worked with Shropshire County Council, West Mercia Constabulary, Shropshire District/Borough Councils, the Primary Care Trust and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to gather information. This means that as well as it being the most efficient way of working the Partnership is able to accurately compare this district with the rest of Shropshire.
The scope of the Crime Disorder and Substance Misuse Audit covered a wide range of issues, including anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime, all of which can affect quality of life and feelings of safety. The Audit consisted of analysis of finding in five areas:
- Statistical data regarding recorded crime and disorder between 2001 and 2004;
- Surveys sent to 4000 residents in the District (response rate of 25%);
- A survey of young people, (response rate of 61%);
- A Youth Lifestyles Survey developed and delivered by the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust (515 young people); and
- A Business Crime Survey administered by Shropshire Chamber and Business Link (response rate of 10%).
This section of the strategy summarises the findings of the Audit. In association with this analysis, it is recognised that the actual number of incidences of crime is exceedingly low across the District when compared nationally. In many instances an increase of actual crimes committed by 2 or 3 will result in a percentage increase of 20-30%.
Analysis of Mapping and Statistical Data - Levels of Crime in Bridgnorth District
This District is a very low crime area – in fact, one of the safest areas in the West Midlands. The Home Office Crime and Disorder ranking and volume of British Crime Survey comparator crime ranks Bridgnorth 372 out of 376 Partnerships.
Between 2001 and 2004, 7,842 crimes were recorded in the District. This equates to an average of 49.8 recorded crimes per 1000 population and compares favourably with a crime rate of 67.8 per thousand population over the whole of Shropshire.
Bridgnorth District is the only district in Shropshire to experience a decrease in recorded crime from 2001 – 2004 of 13.4%.
Overall, total recorded crime levels in Bridgnorth District between 2001 – 2004 were below those for Shropshire, the West Mercia Force area, the West Midlands Region and for England as a whole.
Crime Profile
Using crime, victim and offender data from the Audit, it is possible to build up a ‘typical’ profile of crime within Shropshire and Bridgnorth District between 2001 and 2004.
Victims
- Young to middle aged adults (25-44) are the most likely victims, accounting for 40% of all victims but constituting only 26% of the resident population.
- Young people aged between 15-24, accounted for 19 % of crime but only 11% of the resident population;
- Males are more likely to be the victims of crime accounting for 58% of all victims;
- Of those victims where ethnicity was recorded, 97% of victims were classified as White European; and
- Victims were most likely to have suffered from criminal damage (20%), assault (18%) or vehicle crime (16%).
Offenders
- Over one quarter of offenders charged were aged between 15-19 years of age (25%). Overall the percentage of offenders aged between 10-28 years (68%) was much higher than the corresponding figure for the resident population (22%);
- Male offenders accounted for 80% of all instances where an offender was caught.
- Of those offenders where ethnicity was recorded, 97% were classified as White European; and
- In terms of crime type, offenders were most likely to have been charged for assault (30%) or criminal damage (12%).
Temporal
- Overall crime does not appear to be seasonally affected, with no pattern in the month in which crimes were recorded;
- Crimes were most prevalent on a Friday or Saturday. The two days combined accounted for 34% of all recorded crime in Shropshire; and
- Early evening (17.00 – 19.00 hours) was the most common time for crimes to be recorded. There were also a high proportion of crimes recorded at midnight, although this is in part related to the recording system used.
Where crime occurs in the District
The Crime Audit identified areas and crime types where numbers and impact are the greatest crime priority areas, and where Partnership approaches to reducing crime are also therefore likely to have the greatest impact.
The Audit involved the Broad and Shallow analysis of crime data split into a number of categories reflective of the main crime types. These were:
- Assault;
- Criminal Damage;
- Dwelling Burglary;
- Non Dwelling Burglary (commercial);
- Other (shoplifting);
- Vehicle Crime (including theft from vehicles, theft of vehicles, unauthorised taking and vehicle interference; and
- Violent Disorder and Affray
In addition, public disorder data from West Mercia internal OIS (Operational Information System) was selected from the following categories:
- Disturbance in a Public Place and street;
- Drunkenness;
- General/Public Nuisance; and
- Disorder other.
This data was separated by output area level – these are geographies used by the 2001 Census which each consists of approximately 125 households. Output area analysis provides a very locally based analysis, and enables the identification of crime priority areas. Where crime trends were evident within and between crime categories and across the three-year period, priority areas were identified for analysis in the audit report. Based on this, the priority areas for this strategy are identified as Bridgnorth Town, Shifnal, Broseley, Albrighton and Highley.
Bridgnorth Town
There were 2199 crimes recorded over the three-year period accounting for 28% of the total crime in Bridgnorth District and 3.8% of crime across Shropshire. The number of recorded crimes was fairly consistent over the three-year period with a 4.3% decrease between 2001/02 and 2003/04.
The main crime types were criminal damage (21%), assault (13%) and vehicle crime (13%). There was a 78% increase in the number of assaults between 2001/02 and 2003/04 and a 34 % decrease in the number of vehicle crimes over the same period. A quarter of all recorded crime was along High Street and Whitburn Street. There were also a number of assaults concentrated in Innage Lane and instances of criminal damage along Cartway. There was a peak in the number of non-dwelling burglaries in November 2003. This was mainly the result of a spate of burglaries along Salop Street.
There was also a peak in the number of vehicle crimes in April 2001. There were 235 incidents of anti-social behaviour during the three-year period. There was a 66 % increase in the number of incidents between 2001/02 and 2003/04. Incidents of anti-social behaviour were prevalent along High Street and at Oldbury Wells School with 42 incidents in the last three years.
Shifnal
There were 1023 crimes recorded over the three-year period, accounting for 13% of the total crime in the District and 1.8% of crime across Shropshire.
Overall there was a 27% decrease in the number of crimes between 2001/02 and 2003/04. Main crime types were criminal damage (21 %), vehicle crime (13%) and assault (13%). The only crime type to increase during the recording period was assault, which experienced a 28% rise.
The priority crime locations within Shifnal were Park Street in the southern part of town and Coppice Green Lane - Idsall School (28 incidents in the last three years) and Church Street. There were also a number of vehicle crimes along Aston Street. Vehicle crime, dwelling burglary and criminal damage were higher on a Friday than at any other time. There were 384 incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded during the three-year period. The number of incidents increased significantly over the recording period, with a rise of 228.6% between 2001/02 and 2003/04.
Broseley
There were 661 crimes recorded over the three-year period. Between 2001/02 (209) and 2003/04 (260) there was a 24% increase in the number of crimes. Main crime types were criminal damage (28%), vehicle crime (22%) and assault (13%). There was a 111% increase in the number of instances of criminal damage between 2001/02 and 2003/04. There was also a 62% increase in assaults and a 40% decrease in vehicle crime during the same period.
The priority crime locations in Broseley were along the High Street, Church Street, Dark Lane and King Street. Crimes peaked in April 2001 and November 2003 compared with the rest of the three-year recording period. A peak in the number of criminal damage offences in 2003/04 was the predominant reason for the high figure in November. There were 384 incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded during the three-year period. This represents an increase of 156% between 2001/02 and 2003/04. The High Street was again a prevalent location and there were also a number of incidents in the Memorial Gardens.
Albrighton
There were 574 crimes recorded over the three-year period. Between 2001/02 and 2003/04 there was a 48% decrease in the number of crimes. The main crime types were vehicle crime (19%), non-dwelling burglary (19%) and criminal damage (12%).
The main priority crime areas were along High Street and Station Road. Non-dwellings burglaries were prevalent in February and March 2002. 22% of all non-dwelling burglaries in Albrighton occurred during these months. Over the last three years there were 58 actual assaults with one quarter of all offenders charged with assault were aged between 30-34 years. There were 213 incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded during the three-year period. This represented an increase of 208% between 2001/02 and 2003/04. There were particular peaks in the data in October 2003 and March 2004.
Highley
There were 497 crimes recorded over the three-year period. The numbers remained fairly consistent over the recording period with a 6% decrease in the number of crimes between 2001/02 and 2003/04. The main crime types were criminal damage (27%), assault (15%) and vehicle crime (11%). Between 2001/02 and 2003/04 there was a 72% increase in the number of assaults and a 69.9% decrease in instances of criminal damage.
The main hotspot locations of crime were High Street, Orchard Street and Coronation Street. There were 55 vehicle crimes in the three-year period, accounting for 11% of the total crime in Highley. On average, the number of recorded crimes was higher between May and June than at any other time during the year. There were peaks in the data in May 2003, June 2003 and November 2003. There were 228 incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded during the three-year period. This represented an increase of 12% between 2001/02 and 2003/04.
Residential Survey
The same questionnaire was used across the Safer Shropshire Partnership area in order to ensure consistency. The survey was posted to a random selection of 4000 Bridgnorth District residents during July 2004. A freepost envelope was included in order that returns could be sent directly to PRL, thereby ensuring anonymity. A sample of 994 residents successfully completed and returned questionnaires by the closing date, a response rate of 25%.
Issues Affecting Respondent’s Home Area
The major safety problems reported by respondents in relation to their local neighbourhood were environmental rather than behavioural. Respondents were generally more concerned about problems in their town centre than in their local neighbourhood.
The overall impression gained from comparing responses in 2001 to those given in 2004 is that that little had changed in respondents’ perceptions of various problematic issues in their area. However, there was some evidence to suggest that street lighting had improved whilst the problems of drug dealing may have worsened.
Analysis of these concerns by individual ward suggests that two overall types of ward can be discerned. One type tends to rank environmental issues relatively high and reflects the relative ranking for the county as a whole. The other type tends to identify anti social behavior issues such as drug use, drunkenness and vandalism relatively highly. Examples of this second type of ward which may well benefit from more targeted research are Highley, Albrighton South, Broseley West, Shifnal Manor and Shifnal Idsall. In all of these wards there is a particular concern with drug dealing.
Issues in town centres
The diagram below demonstrates issues in local town centres:
The main concern in town centres is that of anti social behavior. The top five concerns were drunkenness by youths and adults, drug dealing, vandalism and litter and rubbish.
Perception of crime
There was also considerable variation by ward in terms of perception of crime. Three quarters of respondents in Glazeley reporting being worried by one or more crime in the previous 12 months. Conversely in Ditton Priors only one third of respondents reported being worried in the previous year. 36% of all respondents reported having worried about house burglary in the last year. 33% worried about theft from grounds and out buildings and 31% worried about having a car vandalised.
Respondents were asked, in the last year could they remember ever feeling worried about the following happening to them in their area?
- 29% were very worried about bullied/harassed/intimidated assaulted by someone they know;
- 19% were very worried about criminal damage to property or car;
- 17% were very worried about violent crime e.g. assault or robbery;
- 14% were worried about having a vehicle stolen and having a vehicle broken into and vandalised;
- 13% were worried about being bullied/harassed/intimidated/ assaulted by someone they don’t know;
- 12% were worried about having their homes burgled;
- 10% were worried about theft from grounds or outbuilding e.g. shed/garage; and
- There was also a reduction in the proportion of respondents who felt safe walking around their local area as shown in the table below.
Bullying, Intimidation, Harassment and Assault
The experience of just fewer than 90% of respondents is that they could not recall being worried about any of these crimes the previous year. Only around one sixth of crimes against the person experienced by respondents in the previous year were reported to police. The main reason given for this (which applies to 44% of unreported crimes against the person) is that they were not felt to be serious enough. However approximately 39% were not reported because victims did not think the police would be able to do anything and approximately 50% because respondents thought the police would not treat it seriously enough.
Alcohol
Just under four fifths of respondents reported drinking alcohol with around one fifth abstaining. A relatively small number of respondents reported experience of having had drinks spiked. Respondents tended to be slightly more worried about youth and adult drunkenness than other issues relating to alcohol.
Drugs
7% of respondents reported experience of using cannabis. 54% of 16 - 25 year olds reported use while only 1% of those aged 60 and over had used cannabis. No other drug had been tried by over 2% of respondents. Only 2 of the 944 respondents reported using any drug more frequently than monthly. All others who had experience of using any drug reported using it less frequently than once a month. Over one quarter of respondents had seen evidence of drug use. Wards with high levels of respondents reported seeing evidence of drug use in the previous 12 months, were Shifnal Idsall, Shifnal Manor, Highley, Albrighton South, Bridgnorth Morfe and Bridgnorth East. The major aspects of drug use reported were various types of abandoned items, and witnessing drug taking.
Download the Residential Survey.
Youth Survey
This questionnaire was based upon the overall residents’ surveys already carried out in each district. It was, however, altered substantially in order to concentrate on community safety issues relating to young people. The survey was conducted by self-completion questionnaire, approximately 2000 copies of which were distributed to schools across the county during September. A sample of 1222 young people successfully completed and returned questionnaires by the closing date, a response rate of 61%. Just under 400 questionnaires were completed by students attending the four senior schools in Bridgnorth District.
The table below highlights the key issues noted by the young people:
| Problems in local areas | Problems in town centres |
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Young Peoples’ Perception of Crime
86% of young respondents felt safe walking in their local area and 80% felt safe walking in the local town centre during the day. This decreased to 53% in the local area at night and 40% in the local town centre at night. 23% of young people felt it was unsafe to use footpaths and alleyways at night.
Bullying, Intimidation, Harassment and Assault
22% of young respondents had been bullied in the last 12 months. Of these, 40% had been bullied three or more times. 32% of young people, who had been bullied, had been bullied by someone they knew and 23% by a gang. 39% were bullied for no apparent reason. 59% reported that bullying took place at school and 8% near home. The primary worries for young respondents were theft of mobile phones, being bullied by someone they knew, being bullied by someone they didn’t know and criminal damage.
Schools Lifestyles Survey
The response to this survey was disappointing with only 515 young people aged 11-15 taking part in the survey across Shropshire. As the survey was designed as an electronic web based survey it is possible that access to IT suites within schools acted as a limiting factor.
Alcohol
Questions were designed to find out whether young people drink alcohol, how often they drink it and where they obtain it from. Responses highlighted the following:
- 79% of Shropshire’s respondents had had an alcoholic drink (3% more than in Telford and Wrekin). The national average is only 61%;
- Boys were more likely to have had an alcoholic drink, or drink more frequently than girls;
- Most children had first tried alcohol when under 12 years of age (most of these when they were younger than 10);
- The vast majority of young people said they only drink alcohol a few times a year (36%);
- Only 8% of boys and 2% of girls said they drink alcohol almost every day;
- The average number of drinks consumed by young people each time they drink is between 1 and 3; and
- Most young people never buy alcohol but obtain it from friends and relatives. The least likely place to obtain alcohol was from a club or disco.
Drugs
Questions were designed to find out whether young people take drugs, have been offered drugs or have seen evidence of drug use. The following key issues form the results were:
- Although only a small proportion of young people indicated that they have been offered drugs the most common drugs offered were cannabis (just over 20%) and magic mushrooms (10%);
- Between 5% and 10% of young people said they had been offered solvents, ecstasy, cocaine, crack or poppers;
- Most of the young people questioned said that they had never taken drugs but those who had were most likely to have taken cannabis (19%) or tried solvents (10%) and poppers (7%); and
- The drug respondents were least likely to have taken was heroin.
Connexions Substance Misuse Research
Over the last three years the Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership have commisioned research into drug use in the District. The first piece of research was in two parts conducted in 2002 by the voluntary sector. Both parts gave a baseline position statement for substance misuse in Bridgnorth District. The second research document conducted by Connexions in 2005 builds on this previous research and evlauates current sustance misuse amongst 11-18 year olds.
Over 700 young people took part in the research which concluded that alcohol accounts for the vast majority of substance usage by young people. The use of drugs is far less prevalent than that of alcohol. There is a massive difference between young peoples perception of substance usage amongst their peer groups and the actual level of substance usage amongst young people. Young people stated that they require information on drugs to prevent substance misuse and increased access to recreational activities to prevent boredom which may lead to substance misuse.
Business Crime Survey
Shropshire Chamber of Commerce issued 1000 postal questionnaires to the largest businesses in each District, the questionnaire was also posted on several websites. The return rate was 10%.
This analysis is based on 170 employers who each estimated an amount that crime costs their business per annum. It excludes employers who stated no cost, who did not respond or who were unsure. The average cost of crime to business per annum, including incident and lost opportunity costs, totals £563,055. This averages at £3,300 per company. With the range of costs identified from £50 per year to £50,000 per year.
Over four fifths (86%) of employers feel that crime against business in their local area is a problem to some extent. Nearly one fifth of employers (17%), feel that crime is a serious problem, with 26% thinking this is a problem. Over two fifths of employers (42%) think the extent of crime against business in their local area is a small problem. 4% of employers feel crime is not a problem and 9% are unsure.
Nearly two thirds, (64%), of employers have experienced at least one type of crime against their business over the past 12 months. Just over one third of employers, (36%), state they haven’t experienced any of the identified crimes. Structural damage is the main issue, with nearly one-third (31%), of all employers stating their business has experienced this over the past 12 months.
Virtually two thirds (64%) of employers have experienced at least one crime against their business over the past 12 months, with 35% not experiencing any such incidents. The main number of instances employers have experienced is one to three, with 40% of businesses experiencing this number of crime instances over the past 12 months.
Just over three quarters (78%) of employers reported at least one of their crime instances, although just over one fifth, 21%, did not report any incident. 45% of employers might not report a crime if there was only minor or no loss or damage to premises or property, the main reason for not reporting. Over one fifth, 22%, of employers might not report a crime due to having no confidence in the police response.
Experience of anti social behaviour tended to be minor vandalism (36%) and excessive littering (35%), with over one third of employers experiencing each of these types of anti social behaviour over the past 12 months. Just over one quarter, (26%), of employers have experienced vomit or urine outside their business. Similar proportions have experienced anti social behaviour towards employees (23%), and rowdiness/noise (22%).
Two thirds (66%) of all employers have experienced some form of anti social behaviour over the past 12 months, with one-third (33%) not experiencing any such behaviour. The main number of instances experienced is 1-3 instances, with just over one quarter (25%) of employers experiencing this level. Virtually nine tenths (89%) of employers that have experienced anti social behaviour have taken some action about it with 10% taking no action. The main type of action taken is to clean up, with nearly three-fifths (57%) of employers doing this.
SPAM e-mail (57%) and virus infections (53%) are the two main types of computer related incidents experienced, with over half of employers identifying each of these incidents occurring over the past 12 months.
Over three fifths (62%) of employers can identify at least one impact that crime has had on their business. 37% of employers state that crime has had no impact on their business. Disrupted trading (26%) and lowered staff morale (26%) are the two main ways in which crime has impacted on business.
Nearly half of employers have identified an organisation whose crime reduction advice they have found most helpful. The police, 19%, are the single main source of crime reduction advice that employers have found most helpful. 53% of employers have never sought such advice.
Business considered that faster police response (54%), and tougher sentencing, (52%), are the two factors that employers are most likely to consider would be very effective in reducing crime. 43% of employers think that video camera surveillance would be very effective in reducing crime.
Community Involvement and Consultation
The success of the Bridgnorth Community Safety Partnership relies heavily upon the high level of support received from other agencies, community groups and individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to developing safer communities within Bridgnorth District. In addition to the day-to-day involvement of the community at Partnership and Task Group level, local organisations have been consulted on the emerging findings of this strategy.
a) A Community Safety Seminar
In November 2004, the Partnership hosted a Community Safety Seminar to present the findings of the Audit to local people and partners to begin to identify local priorities and the actions needed to be taken collectively to address community safety concerns.
Over 60 representatives from local community groups and organisations attended the seminar. The day provided an opportunity for everyone to consider which issues must be addressed in the short, medium and long term and to come forward with ideas and initiatives for the future.
b) Audit Findings – A Summary
In addition to the Seminar, the Partnership produced a summary leaflet that identified the key findings from the audits and outlined how the Partnership proposed to move forward. The leaflet was circulated to all stakeholders including local district Councillors, the media and community representatives. It was also been made available to local people through the five libraries and community information points across the district. Summaries of the audit findings were also posted on Bridgnorth District Council website: www.bridgnorth-dc.gov.uk
c) Displays and Presentations
A display of the audit findings was been produced and circulated around public buildings across the District. In addition, members of the Partnership Steering Group gave presentations on the findings of the Audit to a wide range of community groups and businesses, gathering feedback which has helped inform strategy.
d) Media Awareness
As part of the Safer Shropshire Partnership, Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership contributed towards a full-page article in the Shropshire Star in December 2004, seeking residents’ views on audit findings. 208 responses were received for the whole of Shropshire of that 14% were received from Bridgnorth District residents.
e) Act-on-it
The Partnership commissioned a Community Arts Company to consult with young people to ensure the findings from the Audit were accurate. ‘Act on it’ used arts based consultation using drama, music, art, photography and a film weekend workshop to develop ideas expressed in previous youth consultation. The young people at the workshop created a video exploring their community safety issues which was presented to senior schools across the District. Schools were provided with the survey data on compact disc (CD) to facilitate further involvement and analysis of local community safety issues by young people. The CD will also provide a useful resource that is also available to the wider community.
f) Business Consultation Evening and Breakfast Meetings
Presentations on the results were also presented to the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast Club in Shifnal (and around other parts of Shropshire) and a Business Consultation Evening was arranged in November at the Crown Public House, Bridgnorth where presentations were made about the survey findings and the Safer Business Intiative.
