Community Safety Priorities
Strategy into Action
The Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership has developed action plans to ensure the aims and objectives within this strategy are met. The action plans contained within this Strategy reflect actions to be delivered from April 2005 – March 2008.
The action plans highlight the aims of the Strategy. Under each aim, relevant issues have been discussed and objectives formed. The resultant action plan then highlights projects, resources, timescales and lead partners. The action plan also demonstrates linkages to the PSAs (D= Direct Impact, I = Indirect Impact). These linkages will clearly demonstrate how work in Bridgnorth District will contribute to the national target of 15% reduction in crime. Most importantly the action plans detail how performance will be measured.
Anti Social Behaviour
Aim One : To reduce anti-social behaviour within Bridgnorth District.
Scope
Types of anti-social behaviour can include:
| Verbal abuse | Criminal damage | Harassment |
| Vandalism | Graffiti | Racial Abuse |
| Noise | Fireworks | Assault |
| Litter and Rubbish | Begging | Alcohol induced nusisance |
| Vehicle Crime | Prostitution/Kerb crawling | Threating behaviour by groups |
Issues
As with many of the other crime types analysed, the majority of incidents of anti-social behaviour in Bridgnorth District occur around the district Town Centres. The 2004 residential survey also reveals that general and public nuisance is perceived to be a greater problem within the town centre than in local neighbourhoods. The ‘binge drinking’ culture that is widely recognised as a particular problem in England is one of a number of factors that have pushed anti-social behaviour to the forefront of current priorities on crime reduction and prevention. In the Youth Survey young people also consider that drunkenness in the evening by young people and adults was a problem
General/public nuisance is the most prevalent type of anti social behaviour recorded in Bridgnorth district. Priority areas for anti social behaviour in Bridgnorth District are main town centres and the larger settlements of Bridgnorth Town, Broseley, Highley and Shifnal.
As would be expected, incidents of anti-social behaviour in the rural priority areas are highest, between 16:00 and 22:00 hours. Throughout the District, reported incidents of anti social behaviour increase significantly on Friday through to Sunday reflecting that these are the traditional days for drinking to occur. Peaks in incidents are recorded between the hours of 19:00 – 22:00 hours and 01:00 and 02:00 hours on these days.
Partnership Objectives
- To identify and target priority areas of anti social behaviour;
- To support intiatives which work to encourage active citizenship, promote community safety and reduce anti social behaviour;
- To work with local communities to develop local solutions to anti social behaviour;
- To work with local partners and licensees to actively manage the impact of Licensing Act 2003 and minimise the risk of anti social beviour and disorder resulting from excessive alcohol consuption; and
- To develop ‘Street Scene’ initiatives to help reduce the fear of crime.
Substance Misuse
Aim Two : To reduce the harm caused by drug misuse and increase support for people with alcohol and drugs issues.
Scope
Substance misuse can relate to:
| Drugs related offending | Drug availability |
| Effects of drug use and drug dealing on communities | Illicit drugs |
| Drug education, advice and harm reduction | Drunkenness |
| Sensible drinking | Underage drinking |
| Alcohol induced crime-assaults, criminal damage, domestic violence |
The Shropshire Drug Action Team (DAT) is responsible for tackling drug and alcohol issues across Shropshire. Establishment of the Safer Shropshire Partnership has enabled integration and alignment of DAT work with that of the Crime Reduction Partnerships in Shropshire.
Issues
The 2004 residential survey reveals that drunkenness in the evenings by both adults and young people are perceived to be the greatest problem in Bridgnorth District town centres.
- 44% of those who replied considered drunkenness in the evening by young people in Bridgnorth Town centre to be a problem.
- 30% considered drunkenness in the evening by adults in Bridgnorth Town Centre to be a problem.
- 33% considred drug dealing in the town centres to be a problems, although less than 17% has seen evidence of drug dealing.
- Communities most concerned were Bridgnorth, Shifnal and Highley.
Bridgnorth town centre has a high number of pubs. Temporal analysis of incidents of assaults, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour indicates that people who have been drinking cause much of the damage and violence in the District.
Partnership Objectives
- To support the work of the Shropshire Drug Action Team in Bridgnorth District;.
- To reduce the number of alcohol related crimes in Bridgnorth District priority areas;
- To reduce the number of young people drinking regularly at age 15;
- To promote sensible drinking in the community through education activities; and
- To reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs.
Crimes Against the Person
Aim Three : To reduce violence in public places and in the home by supporting all agencies in their efforts to build confidence in reporting violent crime.
Scope
For the purpose of this Strategy, crimes against the person relates to:
- Domestic Violence
- Violence on the Streets
- Hate Crime
Issues
Domestic Violence
The Home Office is committed to tackling domestic violence through a system of prevention, protection, justice and support.
A widely accepted formula for calculating the prevalence and cost of domestic violence has been adopted by the Government . This formula suggests that 1 in 9 women will have experienced domestic violence in the previous year; and 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic violence in a life-time. The cost of providing services to deal with this is estimated to be £60 per household.
Domestic Violence is a hidden issue. Local understanding of the problem is limited to reports made to the police and the Domestic Violence Helpline. During the period 2001-04, 558 incidents of domestic violence were recorded in Bridgnorth District. This represents 14% of incidents in Shropshire.
The County Domestic Violence Co-ordinator (funded by the Home Office until April 2006) provides support and guidance to many organisations dealing with domestic violence. The post co-ordinates activity between the Shropshire Domestic Violence Forum and the Bridgnorth Domestic Violence Forum and provides support via a local counselling service for victims of domestic abuse.
In addition the Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership has supported the Hereford and Shropshire 24 hour Domestice Violence Helpline.
Violence on the Streets
Violence on the Streets is a very visible problem, and one that contributes to fear of crime within the community.
Assault, violent disorder and affray accounts for 11% of total recorded crimes in Bridgnorth District between 2001 and 2004. Not suprisingly, the main violent crime priority area identified is Bridgnorth Town, Highley and Broseley. The vast majority of assaults occur in high streets and around pubs, possibly indicating that alcohol is a significant contributory factor to the crimes.
Hate Crime
Hate crime is commonly associated with prejudice against particular individuals such as those from minority ethnic groups or based on homophobia. A more accurate defintion of hate is any crime where prejudice against an indentififiable group is a factor in deteriming who is victimised.
46 hate crimes were recorded in Bridgnorth District between 2001 and 2004. Racially aggravated hate crimes are the common types of hate crime, accounting for 84% of total hate crime in Bridgnorth District (7% of the Shropshire total). A total of 622 hate crimes were recorded in Shropshire.
Hate crime has not been identified as a priority for action within this Strategy, due to the low numbers involved. However, as part of its commitment to equalities, the Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership will continue to work with local communities, vulnerable groups and relevant agencied to build community confidence and encourage the reporting of hate crime and respond to issues as they arise.
Partnership Objectives
- To work with the Safer Shropshire Partnership to map the provision of domestic violence services , identify service gaps and monitor extent of the domestic violence.
- To work with the Safer Shropshire Partnership to build effective domestic violence partnership structures and processes.
- To focus Partnership resources on hotspots areas to reduce the levels of violent crime.
- To identify and target persistent offenders of violent street crime.
- Provide support for partnership initatives such as ‘Pub Watch’.
- To remove hate graffiti within 24 hours of indentification.
Property Crime
Aim Four : To minimise the number of burglaries and vehicle crime in Bridgnorth District through prevention and enforcement activity and to raise awareness of business crime issues in Bridgnorth District.
Scope
Property crime is a wide ranging issue which encompasses domestic burglary, business crime, bogus callers, non-dwelling burgulary, arson, vandalism and vehicle crime.
Issues
Domestic burgulary levels in Shropshire have decreased overall over the last few years. During 2003/04, Bridgnorth District experienced 7% of domestic burglaries in Shropshire (per 1000 population). The 2004 residential survey revealed that 36% of Bridgnorth District respondents regulary worried about burgulary, theft, bogus callers and vandalism.
Business crime is a concern across Britain with the British Chamber of Commerce estimating that crime costs UK businesses £19 billion per year. Generally town centre buinsesses appear to suffer more from criminal damage than other business.
Vehicle Crime is an issue in all priority areas in Bridgnorth District. Recent figures suggest that vehicle crime is increasing significantly in Bridgnorth compared to the rest of Shropshire.
Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority
The problem of deliberate firesetting (arson) is not large in the Bridgnorth area, although there are times when patterns of firesetting develop and need addressing. It must be remembered that one small fire can cause enormous damage if it spreads to a school or business and can affect the whole community.
In support of the Community Safety Strategy Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will provide their own strategic action plan for the District, which will draw upon the findings of the public opinion and published statistics. The Action Plan will incorporate a number of initiatives including education of schools and groups, car crime courses for known offenders, seminars and other events for businesses and religious groups, and general awareness for members of the public. The plan will support the targets of other agencies involved in the District as well as achieving a 10% reduction in deliberate fires and hoax calls over the lifetime of the Bridgnorth District Community Safety Strategy.
Partnership Ojectives
- To raise public awareness of prevention techniques to deter burgulars and bogus callers.
- To maximise partnership working and build links with community watch groups to reduce domestic and non-domestic burglary.
- To increase the participation and involvement of local businesses in the work of Bridgnorth District Community Safety Partnership.
- To focus resources on reducing vehicle crime in identified priority areas.
Perception of Crime
Aim Five : To work to reduce the fear of crime in Bridgnorth District by developing an understanding of local problems and concerns and involving communities in the development of appropriate solutions.
Scope
Adressing the perception of crime among young people, older people, women, BME groups and engaging with local communities.
Issues
In a national and regional context, Bridgnorth is one of the safest places to live, work and visit. This is reflected by 96% of local residents who feel safe in their local community during the day. However only 59% of residents surveyed feel safe in their local town centres at night. The residential survey also revealed that residents in the more rural areas of Glazeley, Claverley, Morvile, Worfield and Shifnal Manor are most concerened about crime in their area.
Older people, young people, women, BME groups and those who have been victims of crime are often the groups which are more likely to suffer from very high levels of fear which can prevent them from going out socialising, leading to impacts on their health and quality of life.
Partnership Objectives
- To reduce fear of crime during the day and at night.
- To promote any decreases in the levels of reported crime.
- To work in partnership to reduce the perception of crime.
- To maximise community involvement in crime reduction initiatives.
