2005-2008 Crime & Disorder Reduction Strategy Summary
THE SAFER HARLOW PARTNERSHIP
CRIME & DISORDER REDUCTION STRATEGY SUMMARY 2005-2008
“Working Together for a Safer Harlow.”
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, Harlow Primary Care Trust and Essex Fire & Rescue Service, 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 audit of crime and disorder in the town every 3 years, leading to the production of a 3 year strategy. The following is a brief summary of the Strategy for 2005-08. The full Strategy and Audit can be obtained from our website www.saferharlow.info or by telephoning (01279) 446655.
Summary of the Audit Findings
Volume Offences
Five volume offences were identified which make up the majority of crime in Harlow:
1. Theft.
The main theft category is shoplifting. The Toddbrook/Town Centre ward is the most affected, as it contains the main shopping area in Harlow.
2. Criminal Damage
The majority of offences in this category consist of damage to vehicles, followed by damage to dwellings. The main areas affected are the Toddbrook/Town Centre, and Staple Tye wards.
3. Violent Crime
This overwhelmingly occurs in the Town Centre. There are higher numbers of minor assaults than more serious assaults. This is clearly linked to the higher concentration of licensed premises and the congregation of groups of people in one place. Alcohol is often associated with this violence.
4. Burglary
The highest category is non-dwelling burglaries. Of these, the main wards affected are Toddbrook/Town Centre, Little Parndon/Hare Street and Netteswell. These 3 areas contain higher concentrations of commercial premises. Burglaries of a dwelling are still a volume offence.
5. Vehicle Crime
Theft from motor vehicles is higher than theft of motor vehicles. Toddbrook/Town Centre and Little Parndon / Hare Street have the highest number of offences. The wards show an even spread for theft of motor vehicles.
Other Audit Findings
In addition to the above 5 volume crimes, the following areas were highlighted, due to their increasing trend, or their links to local or Government priorities.
A. Public Order Offences
The number of public order offences has risen greatly in recent years, and indications point to it being linked to an increasing number of licensed premises in the town centre, and alcohol abuse.
B. Drugs.
There are relatively low numbers of recorded drug offences in the town but this is not indicative of the real problem suggested by other data. Possession is higher than supply and the Toddbrook/Town Centre and Mark Hall wards show the most offences.
C. Domestic Violence.
This is a volume offence in Harlow. Toddbrook/Town Centre and Mark Hall wards have the highest numbers. Domestic violence is a national priority which recognises the effect this type of crime has on its victims, including children.
D. Anti-Social Behaviour.
“Nuisance Youths” is the main recorded police category for this type of incident. Staple Tye ward shows the highest number of incidents, followed by Toddbrook/Town Centre. Reducing anti-social behaviour is a Government priority (Harlow is a TOGETHER Action Area). The highest categories of incidents reported to the Council are abandoned vehicles and dumped rubbish, with the Little Parndon and Hare Street ward showing the highest.
E. Hate Crime (Racial/Homophobic/Religious etc).
Racial incidents are higher than homophobic incidents, but levels within Harlow are not high. However, the effect this has, not only on the victim but on the community means it remains a priority from this audit.
Public Consultation
A major public fear of crime consultation exercise carried out as part of the audit identified the following as the key crime and disorder issues for residents of the town:
Main Concerns
- Vandalism, Rubbish & Litter, Youth Nuisance
Main Worries
- Youth Nuisance, Vehicle Crime, Burglary.
Why Worried
- Lack of visible police presence, Personal and peer experience
Perceived Causes of Crime
- Lack of visible police presence,
- Young people with nothing to do
- Alcohol
- Drug dealing
Perceptions of Safety
- Only 18% felt safe in the town centre at night
- Anti-social behaviour led to higher fear levels, than experience of actual crime.
These public priorities align closely with the findings from the actual crime and disorder data in the main body of the audit.
The Strategy
Key Aims
1. To prevent and reduce crime
2. To prevent and reduce the fear of crime
3. To prevent and reduce the harm caused by substance abuse
4. To prevent and reduce anti-social behaviour
5. To prevent and reduce incidents of hate crime
6. To prevent and reduce incidents of domestic violence
Aim 1 – To Prevent and Reduce Crime
Objectives
• To reduce crime in Harlow by 18.5% before April 2008
• To reduce the level of crime in the following volume crime categories;
o Criminal damage (15%)
o Violent crime (28%)
o Burglary (18%).
o Vehicle crime (17%)
Aim 2 - To Prevent and Reduce the Fear of Crime
Objectives
• To reduce the fear of crime in Harlow, through a clear crime and disorder reduction communications strategy.
• To carry out annual public consultation exercises to measure fear of crime levels over 3 years, to monitor performance.
• To implement improvements to the quality of the environment, which will improve perceptions of safety.
• To undertake a programme of “community engagement” to encourage community led solutions and increase community involvement in reducing crime and disorder.
Aim 3 - To Prevent and Reduce the Harm Caused by Substance Abuse
Objectives
• To establish the actual levels of crime resulting from drugs or alcohol abuse.
• To increase the numbers of Class A drug user offenders who enter drug intervention programmes
• To have a sustained impact on the supply and availability of Class A drugs and to increase the amount of Class A drugs seized.
• To reduce public order and violence particularly in the town centre, by engaging with licensees and agreeing actions that tackle these issues.
• To reduce drug and alcohol use through awareness and diversionary programmes in a variety of settings including workplaces, schools, Harlow College and the Young People's Information Centre.
• To increase the number of drug and alcohol users receiving treatment by improving access to shared care, needle exchange and other programmes.
Aim 4 - To Prevent and Reduce Anti-Social Behaviour
Objectives
• To develop a clear strategy for addressing anti-social behaviour
• To develop an anti-social behaviour incidents database, to enable effective monitoring and evaluation of levels
• To promote a range of preventative measures through partnership working
• To support youth and community engagement in combating anti-social behaviour, by developing positive publicity, reporting and victim support systems
• To achieve a reduction from current levels of anti-social behaviour, of 15%.
Aim 5 - To Prevent and Reduce the Incidence of Hate Crimes
Objectives
• To address the under-reporting of hate crime.
• To facilitate improvements in tackling hate crime incidents in premises across the town, which are affiliated with ethnic minority groups.
• To identify repeat offenders and victims, and provide a multi-agency action plan to reduce incidents of hate crime
Aim 6 – To Prevent and Reduce Incidents of Domestic Violence
Objectives
• To address the under-reporting of domestic violence.
• To identify repeat offenders and victims, and provide a multi-agency action plan to reduce incidents of domestic violence
• To engage with the community in combating domestic violence by developing positive publicity, reporting and victim support systems
Action Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
The Strategy aims and objectives will be delivered through annual Action Plans produced by the Safer Harlow Partnership’s specialist Priority Groups.
Each project or action will set out to identify clear outcomes which meet the aims and objectives of the Strategy. Baseline information will be built in wherever possible to show the situation prior to the commencement of an intervention. Each action plan project will have a named lead, and a timetable for completion.
Performance monitoring against the Strategy objectives and action plans will take place on a regular basis using Home Office monthly crime statistics and local data. Annual reports from each priority group chair will be provided to the Safer Harlow Partnership to evaluate overall performance.
If you have any enquiries or require further information regarding the work of the Partnership and this strategy, please contact: Harlow Council’s, Community Safety Team, telephone: (01279) 446655
www.saferharlow.info