Safer and Stronger Communities newsletter Spring 2012

Excellent performance!

AN OUTSTANDING year in North East Lincolnshire has seen all crime reduce by 8.6% (1428 offences), which is a greater reduction than the force average of 5.3% for Humberside. The figures, which run from 01 April 2011 to 31 March 2012, sees crime in North East Lincolnshire at a record low and the division’s best ever year.

Engagement and diversionary work with young people to keep them out of the criminal justice system for minor crime, restorative justice, the effectiveness of substance misuse and alcohol misuse strategies and Integrated Offender Management, have contributed to this success.

Detective Chief Inspector Gerry Darling, said: "Our performance for 2011/12 clearly demonstrates the value of partnership working.

We have continued to work closely with the other agencies that make up the Safer and Stronger Communities partnership, as well as our local This includes a reduction in Neighbourhood Watch Groups, 'serious acquisitive crime' of in order to tackle both crime 11.2% (298 fewer victims across the collective category and re-offending levels. This for domestic burglary, robbery, has helped to bring down the number of crime victims in and theft of and theft from motor vehicle) and also violent North East Lincolnshire. crime with a reduction of 6.9% "It isn't all good news though (108 fewer victims), which sees the area performing well as despite seeing positive reductions in areas such as alongside the other divisions violent crime, we continue to that make up Humberside Police. The record low levels of experience concerning crime are a huge testament to numbers of burglaries. These have occurred due to the ongoing work from North properties being left insecure East Lincolnshire Police and a and vehicles being broken into large number of partner as a result of owners leaving agencies.

Spring 2012

valuable items on show. So once again this year, I can't stress enough how important it is for the public to play their part by taking some very simple precautions.

"Without a doubt the coming year will be very tough as we continue to strive to make further reductions in overall crime levels and challenge the way we work to ensure we are a more victim focused organisation. However we will continue to work closely with our partners in order to maintain the momentum we have gathered over the last 12 months."

This work helps to make the community a safer place and another positive for North East Lincolnshire as it shows not only are the number of incidents across the borough reducing, but also the chances of becoming a victim of crime in the area are now lower than ever before.

Prevent showcase event A HIGH profile event has been used to showcase the value of Prevent partnership activity by Humberside Police and North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Councils.

The aim of the event in Scunthorpe was to highlight the variety of awareness products available for partners to use to support delivery of the Government’s Prevent agenda.

The event forms part of a wider programme of activity which has taken place over the last 18 months and focuses on the two local authority areas of Humberside and Lincolnshire.

The event was attended by partners from education, health, further education establishments, probation service, voluntary sector, and social services.

Delegates were given a flavour of the range of Prevent engagement products available by DC Lee Ross, DC Ben Robinson, and DI Ken Kirwan from the ACPO Prevent Delivery Unit.

Superintendent Jez Huyton said: "As Chair of Prevent

Supt. Jez Huyton

How to deter garden thieves SPRING has sprung and you might be thinking about sewing seeds and cutting the grass. But did you know that nature's own defence mechanisms are one of the best ways to deter intruders?

Burglars look for easy ways of getting into a house or garden. By taking a few simple precautions you can make your house and garden more secure.

for North East Lincolnshire, I found the day very informative and thought provoking. The training material available will allow us to progress our awareness raising strategy with confidence across many organisations and agencies."

Prevent training is being delivered to employees of agencies across the Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership. For further information please contact Rebecca Freeman at rebecca.freeman@nelincs. gov.uk

Many gardeners like to plant around the perimeter of their property, but give little thought to surveillance or security. Leylandii hedges are often used to maintain privacy but these provide little deterrent to a burglar. Using a Holly such as llex Aquifolium would provide your property with privacy but few burglars would want to climb through it. For more information visit www. safercommunities.org/crime -reduction

Fuscia-flowered Gooseberry

Hate Crime... So do we!

IN MARCH four local primary schools sent young representatives to the Safer and Stronger Communities hate crime workshop.

spread the message to their peers and will become the ambassadors for equality within their own schools.

Ten 'hate crime champions' from each school spent the afternoon learning about prejudice and discrimination in schools, sport and the community, what hate crime is, and how it affects victims.

Littlecoates, Fairfield and Lisle Marsden Primaries it's over to you!

Pupils at the workshop

The pupil champions are now planning an activity to

Tilley Award Winners LAST December partner agencies visited Westminster to receive their prestigious Tilley award for crime reduction. The group representing all partner agencies consisted of Chief Inspector Deb Johnstone, Inspector Neil Pattison, PC Paul Caswell, Group Manager Si Anfield from Humberside Fire and Rescue and Steve Davies from Youth Services (pictured). Operation Kincorth won the award for the best national seasonal campaign in recognition of the partnership work surrounding Halloween and Bonfire night.

Inspector Neil Pattison said: "This is truly a testement to

the incredible partnership work that has been evident in North East Lincolnshire for the past few years. Attacks on fire crews have diminished whilst crime reductions and incidents of anti social behaviour have shown significant improvements in recent years. Additionally, with tight budgets right across the public sector this work was done as normal business."

Representatives at Westminster

Immobilise your valuables!

To help combat burglary in the area Humberside Police and Safer and Stronger Communities are encouraging residents to record their valuables.

Immobilise is a free online database which allows you to record the serial numbers and other details of your electronic goods, cycles, jewellery and other items.

Should you be the victim of a burglary simply update the status of these items to ‘stolen’.

This will assist police officers to trace the property far more easily, increasing the chances of Humberside Police arresting the offender responsible and returning your stolen property.

To find out more, or to register your property, visit the Immobilise website at www.immobilise.com.

Street Angels here to help over the bank holiday weekends This Easter the Street Angels were, once again, out assisting people on Cleethorpes streets in the early hours.

Many of the tired and emotional revelers in need had consumed too much alcohol and were simply given support to get home safely, but the dedicated volunteers also regularly provide First Aid to those who need medical attention.

The group first started their angelic work nearly three years ago, thanks to an initiative spearheaded by Safer and Stronger Communities. And the team are still recruiting, taking along prospective volunteers on their night time shifts to show them the ropes.

One such woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was impressed with the dedication of the volunteer band. She had heard about the appeal for more Street Angels and decided to give it a try.

She said: "Someone tweeted me a link and I read about what they do; Street Angels is

a great initiatve.

"I am having a look at what they do tonight with a view to being a volunteer. The Angels are not enforcing any rules. They look after people's welfare. And if they see anyone in a dispute they can direct the CCTV camera operators to monitor the scene. They don’t intervene."

The team of 25 Angels would welcome more volunteers to allow them to expand into Grimsby.

The project is co-ordinated

by Churches Together but volunteers don't have to belong to a church.

However they must be available for at least one Saturday night per month from 9.30pm to 2.30am.

For more details e-mail Jackie Fortune at jackie@nelcitychurch.org.uk or visit the Volunteer Centre, 14 Town Hall St, Grimsby.

Angel volunteers

Warning signs Are you a retailer that would benefit from a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) warning sign to display in your shop?

This poster has been created by the Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership in conjunction with Humberside Police, and copies are available for retail establishments in North East Lincolnshire.

Store logos can be added to the sign before they are printed.

Posters have already been distributed to numerous shops in the area in a bid to reduce shop lifting, as well as to allotments which were suffering from theft from and vandalism.

For further information or to request a copy of the CCTV poster please contact Tom Shaw, Community Safety Officer, on 01472 324944 or email tom.shaw@nelincs.gov.uk.