In the Wider Community Case Studies
Below
are examples of local initiatives. We are not suggesting that
they will necessarily work in your location because each area
will have different local levers which cause fear of crime.
Case Study 1
The Community Projects Against Crime (C.PAC) project was
thought up by a rural community warden who felt that important
information which police required to catch a criminal was not
being given by witnesses. From this the C.PAC for was created
and it includes a series of checklists designed to act as a
prompt if a resident should witness a crime. Due to the nature
of the form, it can be wiped clean, a non permanent pen is
handed out with it to ensure the longevity of the form. A
smaller business card sized version is included for residents
to keep with them when they are out.
The forms have been given to residents of Higham via different
means. Firstly the wardens went door to door to speak to
residents and explain the form and raise awareness of how
residents can help the police. Secondly meetings were
organised with community groups including Age Concern, youth
clubs, residents associations, to give them the form and
explain its benefits. Lastly forms with instructions have been
left in popular places such as the library and post office to
give all residents of Higham access to the form, this also
including neighbouring villages and travellers to the area.
Here is the C.PAC form.
Case Study 2
Jardines is a privately owned bowling alley in Aylesbury town
centre. The owner is a strong supporter of Crimestoppers and
any initiative which helps to make the town safer. He decided
to do something to raise awareness of Crimestoppers.
Anyone bowling a total of 111 in their last game of their
session between 14 October and 10 November 2005 were
automatically entered in a final play off with the chance to
win a number of prizes. The final took place on 11 January
2006. The idea behind selecting all the 111 is the last three
digits of Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
The “Bowl to Beat Crime” was financially supported by Thames
Valley Police and a local drinks company Dayla Ltd. Over the
course of the qualifying period it is estimated that about
12,000 people played and 50 of those achieved the score to
play in the final. The local newspaper, the Bucks Herald also
covered the event.
The outcome of the event will not be possible to quantify in
terms of calls to Crimestoppers for some time. There is no
doubt that Crimestoppers profile has been raised in the area
amongst local business, residents and the media. One
additional outcome is that Dayla Ltd and the Bucks Herald are
firm supporters of Crimestoppers and are backing an
anti-graffiti campaign in Aylesbury.
Case Study 3
In August 2004, the Rochdale Safer Communities Partnership
launched its own communication network, Safer Communities
Partnership Television (SCP TV). This is a dedicated local
network that will be used by the partnership to broadcast
local crime reduction initiatives, provide advice on a range
of community safety issues and highlight community projects
and achievements to the widest possible audience. There are
now 12 screens across the borough located in strategic places
that people use regularly such as the post office, the college
and health centres. SCP TV will also be informing the public
about the issues the partnership needs to do more about as
well as highlighting their successes.
Case Study 4
Barwatch was launched at the end of November 2003 and was
initially funded by Safer Hastings Partnership, Hastings
Borough Council and Sussex Police. There are currently 63
members from Hastings, St Leonards and Old Town. Members are
bar, pub and club landlords and licensees, many of whom are
also linked by a radio system. The aim of the scheme is to
reduce crime and the fear of crime. It also aims to create a
safe environment for all and this could boost the towns
daytime and evening economy by encouraging more people into
the area.
When police arrest a member of the public who has committed a
drug or drink offence on or around the premises of a member of
Barwatch, a photograph can be provided to other members so
that they are then barred from all the scheme’s bars, pubs and
clubs. The simple idea, barred from one barred from all, is
already seeing an effect in the reduction of violent crime. In
just three months, 26 people were barred from 63 premises for
a period of between 3 months and a year.
Case Study 5
Operation Pride is a Trafford business security initiative to
make their business community safer. Trafford Metropolitan
Borough Council (TMBC) has developed the scheme in partnership
with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) for the specific benefit
of the business community in retail, industry and leisure.
The main aim of the scheme is the reduction of business crime
thereby allowing Trafford’s business community to flourish. In
helping achieve this Operation Pride engages all members in a
two-way sharing of criminal intelligence with the police.
There is a dedicated business crime analyst who continuously
investigates trends and patterns to keep the business crime
community up to date about any activity. This is from
intelligence provided by businesses. Where pertinent
criminality trends are identified a police operation will be
run to counter that activity.
There are 3 different membership levels, bronze, silver and
gold. Bronze level is a free service where businesses will
receive:
Silver and gold level membership will be able to get
additional service at a competitive cost.
To find out more about the initiative e-mail
operationpride.gmptrafford@gmp.police.uk
Case Study 6
Suffolk Safekey is an improved keyholder service set up by
Suffolk Constabulary. It is available to all business and
residential properties in Suffolk, whether they have an alarm
fitted or not. Signing up for the service means Suffolk
Constabulary has quick access to your keyholder(s) details
should the police need to gain access to a person’s property
in an emergency while they are away or if they have had an
accident inside their home and entry is required.
Case Study 7
According to a survey by Trading Standards Institute (TSI) in
2002 of 10,000 randomly selected households, 96 per cent of
them did not want sales people calling them and up to 25 per
cent had reported a bad experience with a cold caller in the
last 2 years.
In June 2005 the TSI launched a scheme called “No Cold Calling
Zone” to keep sellers away. Unwanted callers entering these
zones would be reported to the local police or trading
standards office for follow up action. The zones can be set up
by residents groups, community organisations and neighbourhood
watch co-ordinators who would work with trading standards, the
police and their local authority to put up signs and
distribute door stickers to make it clear that cold callers
are not welcome. The TSI have established clear links between
doorstep cold calling and crimes including distraction
burglary. In Cambridgeshire they found that distraction
burglary reduced by 11 per cent in 2 years by having No Cold
Calling Zones.
There would be nothing to stop companies leafleting households
in an attempt to get business, but knocking on the door to
make contact would be deemed cold calling. The Zones have been
set up in
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South Yorkshire
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Nottinghamshire
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Nottingham City
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North East
Lincolnshire
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West Sussex
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Redcar and Cleveland
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Gloucestershire
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Wiltshire
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North Yorkshire
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Cambridgeshire.
BT has helped to fund 23 schemes providing £50,000 of
sponsorship money.
Case Study 8
The Lane End Drug Awareness Evening was hosted by
Neighbourhood Watch working with the Wycombe Community Safety
Partnership and the Thames Valley Police. It was held in the
Land End Youth and Community Centre with the aim of bringing
the local community together to talk openly about drugs and
other issues. The event took place in October 2005.
The aim of the event was to identify the link between drugs
and crime and to give and overview of the size of the UK drug
market with people giving talks. A member of the Substance
Misuse Arrest Referral Team (SMART) talked candidly about his
ownn experiences of drugs and a member of the Drug Prevention
Education Awareness Project (DPEAP) examined the main types of
drugs and their effects. A mother’s story was told to give a
personal account of how drugs can affect an ordinary family.
Local people had the opportunity to meet various support
agencies, ask questions and seek advice. Other support
agencies which attended the day included:
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Addaction – Drug and Alcohol
Service
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Buckingham Stop Smoking Service
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Samaritans
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ACT – Addiction Councelling
Trust
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SKIDZ – Helping young offenders
on the road to recovery
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Crimestoppers
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Schools Liaison/Anti-social
behaviour officer
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Trading Standards
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Buckinghamshire Drugs Action
Team
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