The Safer Harlow Partnership is a partnership of organisations and groups working together to reduce crime, disorder and the misuse of drugs in the town. It is led by Harlow Council, Essex Police, Essex County Council, West Essex Primary Care Trust, and Essex Fire & Rescue Service (Responsible Authorities), but includes many other local bodies such as Probation, Victim Support, the Youth Offending Team, Essex Youth Service, Neighbourhood Watch and residents groups. It is a sub-group of the Harlow 2020 Local Strategic Partnership.
The Partnership is known as a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires these to be set up within each district in England and Wales. Each CDRP is required to conduct an audit of crime and disorder in their area every three years, leading to the production and publication of a three crime and disorder reduction strategy. The previous and current audit and strategy are shown within this website, where you can see detailed crime data, the public’s crime priorities and the 3 year Strategy 2005-08.& 2008-2011
THE SAFER
2008-2011 PARTNERSHIP PLAN
SUMMARY
“Working Together for a Safer
The Safer Harlow Partnership is a partnership of organisations and groups working together to reduce crime, disorder and the misuse of drugs in the town. It is led by Harlow Council, Essex Police, Essex County Council, West Essex Primary Care Trust, Essex Fire & Rescue Service and the Essex Police Authority, but includes many other local bodies such as Essex Probation, Victim Support, the Youth Offending Team, Essex Youth Service, Neighbourhood Watch and residents groups. It is a sub-group of the Harlow 2020 Local Strategic Partnership.
The Safer Harlow Partnership is a partnership of organisations and groups working together to reduce crime, disorder and the misuse of drugs in the town. It is led by Harlow Council, Essex Police, Essex County Council, West Essex Primary Care Trust, Essex Fire & Rescue Service and the Essex Police Authority, but includes many other local bodies such as Essex Probation, Victim Support, the Youth Offending Team, Essex Youth Service, Neighbourhood Watch and residents groups. It is a sub-group of the Harlow 2020 Local Strategic Partnership.
The partnership is required by law to carry out an annual Strategic Assessment of crime and disorder in the town, leading to the production of a three year Partnership Plan. The following is a brief summary of the Plan for 2008. The full Partnership Plan can be obtained from our website www.saferharlow.info or by telephoning (01279) 446433.
Crime in
In 2004, the Safer Harlow Partnership was set the task of working together with the Police and Community to reduce certain levels of crime in
In order to assess just how well Harlow is performing against others in reducing crime, the Home Office compare
To date, the most impressive reductions have been in Domestic Burglary (39% reduction), criminal damage (34% reduction), and wounding (32% reduction). The partnership has also performed well in reducing other crimes such as the theft or taking of vehicles, theft from vehicles, theft from person (stealing of personal property), and the theft of bicycles.
Despite the fact that
The Partnership is keen to assure the public that Harlow is a safe place to live, and also realises that it needs to do more to address areas where it has not performed so well, such as common assaults (more minor violent crimes), and the interference of vehicles.
Crime, Disorder and Substance Misuse Priorities for
The priorities set in the Strategic Assessment were reached through research, data analysis, and community consultation.
Priorities
1. Alcohol-related crime and disorder (principally Town Centre)
2. Children and young people as victims
3. Fear and perceptions of crime
4. Anti-social behaviour
5. Business related crime
6. Offender management
7. Drugs and alcohol (substance misuse)
8. Vehicle crime
Objectives
(Key: LAA – Local Area Agreement, NI – National Indicator, LI
LI – Local Indicator, PSA - Public Service Agreements)
1. Alcohol related crime and disorder (principally Town Centre)
a. To reduce Assault causing Injury crime rate by 10% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (NI 20, LAA)
b. To reduce Assault without Injury crime rate by 10% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (LI 1.01)
c. To reduce repeat incidents of domestic violence by 10% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (NI 32, LAA)
d. To reduce public’s perception of anti-social behaviour over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (NI 17, LAA)
e. To reduce the failure rate to 15% for underage alcohol test purchases.
f. To reduce Accident and Emergency alcohol-related attendances for assault or injury. (baseline data to be established 2008/09 and target set thereafter). (LI 1.02)
2. Children and young people as victims (0-19 yrs)
a. To reduce the number of young victims of crime by 9% over the period April 2008 - March 2011.
b. To reduce the Town centre as a hotspot for young people as victims of crime by 10% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (LI 2.01)
c. To reduce the number of young people as victims of robberies by 9% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (LI 2.02)
d. To reduce the number of young people as victims of violent crime by 9% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (LI 2.03)
3. Fear and perceptions of crime
a. To reduce the public’s perception of anti-social behaviour by 10% (2.7% points) over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (NI 17, LAA)
b. To increase the perception of feeling safe by 5.6% (points) over the period April 2008 -March 2011. (LAA 6.2)
c. To improve perceptions of parents taking responsibility for the behaviour of their children by 6% (points) over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (NI 22)
d. To improve perceptions that people in
4. Anti-social behaviour
a. To reduce Criminal Damage by 15% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (LI 4.01) (Further performance measures to be determined).
5. Business related crime
a. To increase the numbers of businesses (town wide) who join the Harlow Business against Crime Partnership (HarBAC), working more closely with the Chamber of Commerce.
6. Offender management
a. To reduce the re-offending rate of prolific and priority offenders.** (NI 30, LAA)
b. To reduce Adult re-offending rates for those under probation supervision.** (NI 18, LAA)
c. To reduce rate of proven re-offending by young offenders by 15% over the period April 2008 - March 2011.** (NI 19)
d. To reduce first time entrants to the Youth Justice System aged 10-17 by 15% over the period April 2008 – March 2011. (NI 111, LAA)
7. Drugs and alcohol (substance misuse)
a. To reduce substance misuse by young people by 0.6%* over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (NI 115, LAA)
b. To increase drug users in and remaining in effective treatment **. (NI 40)
8. Vehicle crime
a. To reduce vehicle related acquisitive crime, including vehicle interference, by 6% over the period April 2008 - March 2011. (LI 8.01)
* County figure as District breakdown not available.
** Awaiting measure from relevant authority.
Public Consultation
A town-wide consultation and survey was carried out as part of the Strategic Assessment and identified the following as the key crime and disorder issues for residents of the town:
Perceptions of Safety
· Most people feel safe in the town during the day. The numbers feeling unsafe rise markedly after dark, particularly for the town Centre.
· Priority concerns are the risk of becoming a victim of Assault, Vandalism, Robbery (Mugging), and Burglary.
Key priorities from public meetings
· The top priority raised is for more facilities for youths to be provided in the town. More youth clubs and other diversionary activities were requested, which importantly must be affordable to ensure high usage.
· Increased community consultation and engagement in community safety was requested, including greater feedback of actions resulting from reports made by the public. This will increase community involvement and raise community pride.
· Enviro-crime (littering, fouling, fly-tips etc.)
· Alcohol and street drinking related nuisance
· Lack of parental responsibility and disrespect to other residents
These public priorities align closely with the findings from the actual crime and disorder data assessment. The Partnership will ensure that measures are built into its action plans to address these community concerns, and in particular will maintain and further develop community consultation and dialogue, including the holding of an annual “Face the People” meeting.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Performance measures will be set up to be readily available and usable. Crime statistics will be provided to the priority groups to ensure that ongoing monitoring is possible. This data source will be used to assess the overall performance of the Partnership against the targets at the end of this plan period.
Priority group chairs will decide how often monitoring and evaluation will need to take place, details of who will be responsible for collecting and analysing the information, the format the data will be presented and to whom.
The Chair of the Safer Harlow Partnership via the Responsible Authorities Group will have overall responsibility to monitor progress against the Plan and evaluate whether the Partnership’s key aims are being achieved. Annual reports from each priority group chair will be provided to the Safer Harlow Partnership to evaluate overall performance of the Partnership.
If you have any enquiries or require further information regarding the work of the Partnership and this Partnership Plan, please contact the Partnership Co-ordinator on 01279 446433.
Click here to view the 2005-2008 Strategy Summary
Click here to view the full Crime & Disorder Reduction Strategy 2005-2008.
The audit is broken down into three parts.
Click here to see Part one.
Click to see Part Two.
Click to view the Appendix.
The Safer Harlow Partnership is supported by five Priority Groups, each of which is responsible for producing an annual action plan, containing targets to achieve the Strategy objectives. Each priority group is chaired by one of the Responsible Authority representatives as follows:
Safer Harlow Partnership - The Chair is the Chief Executive, Harlow Council.
Anti-Social Behaviour Group – The Chair is the Divisional Officer, Essex Fire and Rescue.
Crime Group – The Chair is the Chief Inspector, Harlow Police.
Communications & Awareness Group – The Chair is the Head of Community Services, Harlow Council
Drugs & Alcohol Group – The Chair is the Director, West Essex Primary Care Trust.
Hate Crime Group (racial, homophobic) - The Chair is Area Co-ordinator, West Essex County Council
Domestic Violence sub-group – The Chair is from Essex Probation Service
What has the Safer Harlow Partnership been doing for YOU?
What have we introduced to tackle crime and disorder?
· A dedicated website
· “It’s your call” hotline (0845 605 2222)
·
· Taxi Marshals
· The “Gate-it” project
· Youth Shelters
· Drugs Sniffer Dogs
· Behave or Be Banned (BOBB) scheme
· Talking CCTV
· Safer Homes – burglary protection
Have a look at the news items on the home page of this website
What have we distributed to help protect the environment?
· Cigarette Stub & Gum Pouches
· Dog Fouling Bags
Have a look at the news items on the home page of this website
What campaigns do we run to help fight against anti-social behaviour?
· Cigarette Stub & Gum Pouches
· Dog Fouling Bags
Have a look at the news items on the home page of this website
What campaigns do we run to help fight against anti-social behaviour?
· Crucial Crew – is an interactive safety event for school children
all Year 6 pupils in the town are invited to attend it is an annual
event which has been running since 2004.
‘Crucial Crew’ is a multi-agency community safety project attended by all year 6
The current agencies involved in Crucial Crew are:
Harlow Council Community Engagement / Respect Team / Enforcement Team & Environmental Health
EDF Energy / Essex Police / Essex Fire Services / Kier Harlow /
· Firebreak –
of safety and citizenship for Key stage 4 children (between the ages of 13 -16 years) by providing a range
of vital life skills whilst undertaking the various disciplines of the Fire Service in non-residential course
lasting 5 or 7 days.
The Firebreak course endeavours to:
· Instill a sense of self discipline, self worth, independence and responsibility
· Promote teamwork amongst the attendees
· Encourage trainees to respect the differences between people
· Confirm the benefits of worthwhile and fulfilling relationships
· Urge trainees to play an active and worthwhile role as a member of
their community
· Ensure that the trainees make the most of their own and others potential
The Firebreak scheme is run by the Essex Fire and Rescue Service, Harlow and Epping Forest Community Command and is funded in part by the Safer Harlow Partnership & Epping Forest Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
· Mini-motos - Operation “Catch & Crush”
Harlow Council and Harlow Police launched operation Catch & Crush in July 2006 following concerns
from residents about mini motos, quad bikes and scramblers being ridden on public land or roads.
Under the law, all such bikes must be taxed and insured. Harlow Council and the Police carry out
surveillance and follow up on reports of illegally ridden nuisance bikes.
Following a first phase of surveillance, confiscated bikes were crushed at a public crushing in the town square in August 2006 watched by many residents and those who had experienced bike nuisance. Despite a large number of seizures in phase one, the problems have been decreasing. In the latest operation August 2007 two bikes were seized and five warnings issued. Nine fixed penalty notices were issued to car drivers spotted using mobile phones whilst driving or not using seat belts.
· Fireworks - Operation “Bang out of Order”
“Have a fun fireworks and Halloween but not at the expense of others or your own safety”, is the message from the Safer Harlow Partnership
A public information event was held in the
The public information event is part of the partnership’s operation: Bang Out of Order. The joint operation aims to reduce anti-social behaviour which may affect local people’s quality of life during the lead up to Halloween and firework celebrations.
The operation also involves:
Encouraging residents to phone the Police on 641212 to report any misuse of fireworks. The calls are directed straight to a nuisance firework car for a response. Emergencies must be reported to 999
as normal.
During October to 5 November the Police and Council will step up enforcement work with its officers on standby from 6pm to 2am everyday to respond to incidents.
The Education Consortium sends out a range of information to infant and junior schools. The Fire Service also joins force with the Police
and visit majority of the secondary schools to undertake safety talks. Essex County Council Youth Workers carry out outreach work with young people in the town.
Trading Standards run countywide campaign providing specific advice to traders on firework storage and sale. This is included in
joint work with the Council and Police test purchasing fireworks.
Police Community Support Officers encourage shop traders to
display firework law information. Detailed information for the public and traders can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks <http://www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks>.
The partnership each year encourages people to attend professionally organised displays as a safety precaution rather than organise there our displays. Harlow Council’s free Fireworks & Bonfire Night takes place on in
