Welcome to Safer Communities North East Lincolnshire
Over the last three years, and more importantly over the last year, the Safer Communities Partnership has reduced crime and hit targets we did not think we could achieve at the start of beginning of 2007/ 08. Through the energy and creativity of individuals and agencies the Safer Communities Partnership achieved a 29% reduction of British Crime Survey Comparator Crimes during 2007/ 08 against the 2003/ 04 baseline. This exceeded our set reduction target of 23%, and exceeded the average across the Yorkshire and Humber region at 25%. This means that during 2007/ 08 there were over 6000 less crimes in North East Lincolnshire than in 2003/ 04.
Beating crime and tackling drugs to make North East Lincolnshire a safer place to live is not easy, and can only be achieved by commitment, effort and working well together. We continue to devote our energy to improve joint working between the local authority, the police and other key partners in order to deliver better and more co-ordinated service. During 2007/ 08 we have seen some excellent examples of what can happen when agencies and members of the community work together on the issues that affect them and how this can then go on to shape future services, initiatives and projects.
We recognise that although we have had major successes over the last year, some challenges remain. Levels of anti-social behaviour, and associated violence and criminal damage remain stubbornly high in our communities and much or our focus in the coming year will address these issues. However, as a result of all the hard work undertaken during the past 3 years, we now find ourselves in a far better position than ever before to build upon what has already been achieved in making North East Lincolnshire a safer and brighter place to live for everyone.
The Safer Communities Partnership in North East Lincolnshire is a statutory partnership set up to join the work of partners across the borough.
Responsible authorities have a statutory duty to work with each other and other local agencies and organisations to develop and implement strategies to tackle crime and disorder including anti-social and other behaviour that is affecting the local environment as well as the misuse of drugs in their area.
The Safer Communities Partnership in North East Lincolnshire is under a statutory duty to ensure that the key agencies come together to work in partnership, and carry out an audit of local crime, disorder and misuse of drugs every year. This is called the Joint Strategic Assessment and was carried out late last year. Using the information from this audit and based on consultation with local communities we have written a strategy for combating crime, disorder and the misuse of drugs in the local area. This strategy is called the Partnership Plan and will shape our work from 2008 – 2010.
The responsible authorities in North East Lincolnshire, as set out in section five of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 are:
- Humberside Police (A Division)
- Humberside Police Authority
- North East Lincolnshire Council
- Humberside Fire and Rescue Authority
- North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus
At a strategic level the Safer Communities Partnership Executive Group meet on progress around the Local Area Agreement 2 targets that have been set, around reducing crime and the harm caused by drugs, as detailed in the North East Lincolnshire Safer Communities Partnership Plan 2008/ 2011. This strategic executive group dovetails into the Local Strategic Partnership and has responsibility for the Safer and Stronger Communities block of the North East Lincolnshire Local Area Agreement 2.
Our key targets are:
- Anti-Social Behaviour
- Negative Behaviour by Young People
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Violent Crime
- Acquisitive Crime
- Reducing Re-offending
- Reducing Road Casualties
At an operational level, multi-agency Task Groups meet on a regular basis to operationalise the strategy and formulate tactical responses to emerging community safety issues. Task Groups are themed around particular types of crime to enable the agencies to focus on the particular crime and formulate the appropriate response.