Lacy Dixon from the Thanet Community Safety Partnership will talk about some of the positive work being done to make Thanet cleaner, safer and greener. In particular, Lacy will address how people perceive crime in Thanet.
Minutes:
Lacy Dixon is the TCSP Co-ordinator for Margate and Cliftonville. Lacy described how the TCSP came about as a result of legislation from the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 that required each local authority to have a Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). Thanet is the best performing CDRP in Kent and its partnership includes the voluntary sector and members of the public as well as the statutory agencies outlined in Spencer’s presentation.
A number of measures recently taken by TCSP has meant that crime in Thanet is reducing at a fast pace, thanks in part to the work of the Tactical Delivery Group whose projects focus on individual areas and their issues, namely Dane Valley, Cliftonville West, Margate, Central Harbour and Newington. Crime Contact Cards have been designed for these areas which give contact details of the local police officer and community warden.
Lacy went on to describe in more detail some of the priorities and work taking place in Thanet
· Criminal damage. The ‘Smart’ water campaign is a chemical substance swabbed onto property so that it can be traced if stolen.
· Domestic abuse. A mural has been designed in Cliftonville West, an area with high rates of abuse, encouraging victims to seek help and providing them with contact details.
· Violence in the night time economy. The ‘Smile’ campaign in Marine Terrace involves extra CCTV cameras and door staff in clubs, etc wearing head cameras. There has also been an increase in the number of police officers in the area and these measures have resulted in a 49.3% reduction in violence against the person in Marine Terrace. Another initiative, the ‘Night Bus’ which costs £2 and travels between Cliftonville, Broadstairs, and Ramsgate ensures that people out late (including staff of bars, etc) get home safely.
· Perception of crime is a lot worse than the reality, and the TCSP is working to overcome this. Thanet has signed up to the Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Pioneer area scheme which has given it extra funding for initiatives such as recruiting Community Crime Fighters (CCF) to offer advice and contact details for more help. There is also an inter-generational play planned at the Theatre Royal in the near future aimed at breaking down barriers and reducing fear.
Q. Will there be police officers on the Night Bus?
A. There will be two police officers on the bus at all times to prevent trouble and address issues.
Q. Are CCFs another version of Neighbourhood Watch?
A. CCFs are different in that they are a liaison point and act as a community lead giving advice on what resources are available.
Q. Is Community Safety involving senior citizens, e.g. the East Kent Association of Senior Citizens?
A. Yes, we working with the voluntary sector and community wardens also receive feedback from senior citizens.
Q. How is all this information disseminated to the public?
A. Individual complaints are always responded to. Sometimes the complainant will be visited. For bigger issues, either the PACT panel will provide feedback or information will be given through the media either in newspapers or on the website.
Q. Some vandalism seems to be invited because of the way areas have been landscaped, for example using gravelled areas. Is consideration given to the possibility of smashing glass with pebbles, etc. during the planning process?
A. During planning consideration is given to right type of landscaping in order to reduce problems and the police do give advice also.
Lacy Dixon gave her contact details and invited the audience to contact her if they had any specific issues they wished to raise. Tel: 01843 577 608 or email Lacy.Dixon@thanet.gov.uk