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Introduction to our Key Priority Areas

In 2004 an audit of Crime, drug misuse and Anti-social behaviour was   undertaken in Redditch  to ensure that this strategy would be relevant to Redditch. To ensure the Audit had highlighted issues that were of concern to local people, Focus Groups, interviews and surveys were undertaken. Residents, Community members, local businesses and other stakeholders all gave their opinions on the key issues highlighted by the audit. The audit was then used to develop this Community Safety Strategy, and identify five key priority areas to focus our work on for the next three years.

Priorities

1. To Keep Redditch Safe

Redditch is a relatively safe place and over the next three years the Partnership will work to make it even safer by continuing to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and its root causes.

Why was this chosen as a priority?

In line with Worcestershire as a whole, crime in Redditch rose over the audit period Jan 2001 to Dec 2003.  Redditch had 26,467 recorded crimes which accounted for 18.3% of the total recorded crime in Worcestershire (144,608 recorded crimes).  However, since 2001 when the previous crime audit took place there have been many changes in the way crime is recorded by the police nationally.  This has made making accurate comparisons year on year difficult.

Figure 1: Total Number of Recorded Crimes by District

When considering % change in recorded crime over this given period, Redditch is ranked third highest out of the six Worcestershire districts having lower percentage increases than Bromsgrove and Worcester City but higher than Malvern Hills, Wyre Forest and Wychavon.

What do the figures say are the highest recorded crime types?

As a percentage of all recorded crime the top five offences recorded in Redditch for the calendar years 2001 - 2003 were:

• Criminal damage 22.7%
• Assault 15.6%  
• Vehicle crime 15.0%
• Non Domestic burglary 7.8%
• Domestic burglary 5.9%

Although criminal damage represented the highest percentage of crime committed in Redditch between 2001 and 2003 there were only eight more offences recorded in 2003 than in 2001. This contrasts with sharp increases across Worcestershire over the three years of 15.9% in Worcester City and 22.8% in Bromsgrove.

Did any crime types fall?

The only crime type to fall over the last three years (2001 to 2003) was racially aggravated offences, where the numbers recorded decreased by 86 (58.5 per cent decrease). This compares with a 68.9 per cent decrease across Worcestershire for the same period. Although racially aggravated offences only accounted for a small percentage of the total recorded crime in Redditch, the 336 racial offences in the Borough accounted for over 43 per cent of the total racially aggravated offences in Worcestershire.

The audit process also highlighted the need to deal with crime problems arising from the consumption of alcohol.

Our aim is to: Reduce recorded crime (BCS Comparators) by 17.5% by March 2008. Targets are to reduce: Vehicle Crime: Target of 9% reduction by March 2008 (reduction of 110 offences) Criminal Damage: Target of 25% reduction by March 2008 (reduction of 558 offences) Wounding: Target of 32% reduction by March 2008 (reduction of 411 offences) Reduce crime by affecting the behaviour of Prolific and Priority Offenders (PPO’s) Prevent those most at risk of becoming the Prolific and Priority Offenders of the future from doing so.

From a Baseline in 2003/04 of 6,069 offences, the number of recorded crimes needs to be reduced by 1062 crimes for us to hit our target.

To achieve this we will:

• Employ a dedicated data analyst in order to provide more effective intelligence led policing;
• Work with Partners to ensure that PPO’s are targeted, helping to reduce volume crime
• Support the Planning departments to ensure that all New Build, Refurbishments and improvement programmes design out crime, increasing public feelings of safety;
• Continue to support and further develop Partnership work with Licensees to deal effectively with Crime and Disorder on licensed premises.
• Work with transport providers to provide Safe, efficient services, improving feelings of safety for drivers and people travelling on public transport.

2. To Keep Communities Feeling Safe

Why was this Priority chosen?

The Redditch Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour Audit 2004 found that although the chance of being a victim of crime in Redditch is low many people think that crime is rising.  The Redditch Fear of Crime Survey 2004 commissioned by the Partnership found that less than one person in 10 had been a victim of crime.  The survey found that concern over crime and anti-social behaviour had increased over the past three years with prime concerns relating more to litter and rubbish lying around, young people hanging around, vandalism and damage to property, including graffiti, than crime.

What exactly is Anti-social behaviour?

The definition we use is:

“Any long term behaviour by an individual or group which makes another person or group feel harassed, alarmed, threatened or distressed.”

The audit highlighted that only a small part of the real nature of ASB is known. It also identified overlaps between what is reported as ASB and what is reported as a crime.

Some forms of ASB are also crimes, such as criminal damage and vandalism, but some – such as groups of people gathering and being noisy - are not. This means that measuring ASB accurately is currently a difficult process.

Information will continue to be collected, from local authority areas such as housing and environmental services to continue to develop a more accurate picture.

Our aim is to: Reassure communities that Redditch is a safe place to live, work and visit and we will encourage communities to work with us to reduce the fear of crime and improve their quality of life.

To achieve this we will:

• Develop a communications strategy to communicate our actions and reassure the public;
• Be proactive in tackling the causes of anti-social behaviour and taking the appropriate legal action against perpetrators;
• Record and take action against racial and other forms of harassment;
• Expand CCTV to district Centres
• Develop a witness/victim policy which will provide clear guidelines as to the support that can be expected form the relevant agencies.
• Make improvements to the local environment to help reduce the factors that contribute to fear of crime.

The outcome of this will be that local people, as well as those working in or visiting the borough, will feel safer, and that they will feel confident in the reporting of their concerns.

3. Achieve Cleaner, Greener and Safer Public Space

Why was this Priority chosen?

National research has found that poor environment attracts people who commit crime and anti-social behaviour. When combined with deprivation or poor opportunity, the quality of life in vulnerable neighbourhoods is undermined. Issues including graffiti, vandalism, abandoned vehicles, litter etc were repeatedly raised in consultation about crime.

Local major local concerns were expressed over the safety of Redditch’s underpasses and the adopted footpath network. This was especially highlighted where they run through the housing estates which form the ‘New Town’ area where local authority housing is the main tenure.

Signs of anti-social behaviour were said to be apparent within a number of underpasses and on the associated pathways. This coupled with people’s perception and fear of crime,  creates a deterrent to their use.

Our Aim is to: Work to achieve safe, clean and attractive parks and open spaces. “Liveable places that local people are proud of” Targets National Green Flag award for Arrow Valley Park Reduce number of reports of litter by 25% by 2008 Reduce number of reports of fly-tipping by 15% by 2008 Reduce number of reports of abandoned vehicles by 27.5% by 2008

To Achieve this we will:

• Reduce Graffiti and Vandalism, by increasing response times
• Develop Community Pride, by educating young people and ways to highlight the social unacceptability of graffiti and vandalism, and working with Police Community Support Officers.
• Swiftly remove abandoned vehicles
• Improve Underpasses by developing a strategy to make them safer and more visually appealing

These targets and actions should increase the attractiveness of parks, play areas and public spaces, and also make them feel safer for the people who use them.

4. Reduce the Harm of Drugs and Alcohol

Why was this Priority chosen?

Drug offences in Redditch are very infrequent, however given the hidden nature of drug use it is highly likely that a large number of problematic users remain unidentified.  Between 2002 and 2003 there were 140 recorded offences which mainly related to possession of cannabis, found when individuals were arrested for other offences.

The  impact of drug problems in local communities can often result in crime, anti-social behaviour and family breakdown. The costs of policing and other burdens are estimated to be between £3 and £4 billion per year. It is also estimated that over 70% of acquisitive crime, burglary and theft is committed to fund a drug habit. Drug misuse can therefore have a significant impact on the wider community.

Research has found the most effective way to deal with drug use problems is to divert users into treatment; providing the opportunity for them to rebuild their lives with the added benefit of reducing the impact of drug use on the wider community.

In 2003/4, there were 69 individuals from Redditch receiving support at the treatment centre in the Town Centre. In total, 166 clients attended the centre (this figure includes individuals with no fixed abode as well as individuals who live outside of Redditch).

What About Alcohol?

As with drugs this is the first time alcohol has been included in the crime audit process. Nationally it is estimated that 4% of the adult population drink to harmful levels at a cost of £20 billion to the health services and criminal justice system.

In 2002 and 2003 there were 2087 alcohol related offences in Redditch and 1286 people were charged. Year on year the actual numbers of offences slightly increased from 1039 to 1048 but assault, the most common alcohol related offence, rose from 37% to 46%.

There is an alcohol arrest referral scheme operating across the county; service collaboration between the judicial system and alcohol referral service aiming to reduce harmful offending behaviour influenced by alcohol. As a condition of bail the offender must attend sessions at HAWASA.  The current service is over subscribed.  

Our Aim is: That the Partnership will work with Worcestershire Substance Misuse Action Team (SMAT) to reduce the harm that Drugs and Alcohol cause to individuals, families and communities within Worcestershire. Targets: Reduce Drug related deaths and drug related ill health Reduce drug and alcohol related crime and disorder Reduce social and educational exclusion Improve access to drug and alcohol treatment and support Increase positive outcomes from drug and alcohol treatment

To achieve this we will:

• Improve drug and alcohol education for young people, especially targeting vulnerable groups such as those in care, those who have been excluded from school
• Improve access to SPACE (information and advice for young people about alcohol and drugs) through effective communication.
• Increase the number of GP’s in Redditch that are involved in Shared Care
• Increase the number of individuals successfully completing treatment and becoming drug free.
• Ensure waiting times for drug and alcohol treatment are within 3 weeks or less.
• Tackle Class ‘A’ supply
• Target alcohol related crime associated with licensed premises in Redditch.
• Continue to establish the Drug Interventions Programme across the district and ensure strong links are built with the Prolific and Priority Offenders Scheme.
• Improve intelligence by building links with the community and encouraging communities to be vigilant and report drug misuse and crime.
• Create effective community engagement so that we are aware of local problems and the needs of communities.
• Tackle drug related anti-social behaviour by increasing the use of Closed Circuit Television and community intelligence

5. Invest in all our Young People

Young People, although disproportionately responsible for a high percentage of certain crimes, are also far more likely to be victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.  The Partnership will strive to create opportunities for young people to explore the rights and responsibilities that come with being a member of Redditch’s community.

Our Aim is to: Work closely in the other bodies and groups that have an interest in developing and improving relationships between  young people and the wider community which will improve communication, confidence and safety for all.