THEME:COMMUNITY SAFETY

VISION:
To contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of our residents, communities and businesses by making Luton a place where communities are stronger, residents empowered, and where people can live and work free from the fear and impact of crime and ASB.

CONTEXT:

The effects of Crime and ASB are detrimental to the residents, communities, businesses and the wider reputation of the town. For some, the impact of crime and ASB can be devastating, not just for those who directly experience it but also their families, friends and local communities. Its long term consequences can impact on the health and wellbeing of our residents and can limit the life and learning opportunities available to them.

Crime and the fear of crime also damages communities; it can limit people’s interactions with their neighbours contributing to isolation and vulnerability, it can restrict the degree to which individuals participate in recreational activities and can negatively effect how people view their home and local area.

These perceptions can also negatively impact on inward investment damaging the prosperity of the town and limiting opportunities for growth and development.

Both LBC and LLAL, through its Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, share the same objectives. Of relevance to this theme are the following:

  • Reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear it causes, ensuring all people feel safe (OUT03) (OBJ05)
  • Empower, support and protect the vulnerable(OBJ01)
  • Strengthening communities; building capabilities and resources of community, voluntary and social enterprise groups together to work out shared solutions(OUT01)
  • Create a vibrant environment where businesses thrive and prosper(OBJ04)
  • Providing positive activities for young people and reducing anti social behaviour (OUT16)
  • To strengthen community cohesion (OBJ07)
  • More well-designed, safer and accessible open spaces (OUT05)

PRIORITY OUTCOMES:

Outcomes
The specific outcomes and objectives of relevance to the Community Safety Theme are identified above with;Reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear it causes, ensuring all people feel safe (OUT03) (OBJ05)and Empower, support and protect the vulnerable (OBJ01) considered core priority outcomes within this theme.
These outcomes are afforded priority status as they are seen as imperative in order to deliver the vision of the community safety theme. Consequently it is essential that in developing interventions to deliver the broader spectrum of outcomes and objectives identified within this document, there should be a clear expectation that these interventions will positively impact on at least one of the two priority outcomes.
Where this is not the case then the Community Safety theme lead will work with colleagues across the other theme areas to identify whether a proposed initiative or service is more suited to an alternative theme. In fact it is anticipated that there will be considerable overlap between theme areas given the cross cutting nature of the outcomes and objectives identified in the sustainable communities strategy.
Proposed areas for intervention
Reduce the volume of crime and incidents of ASB
  • Reduce crime by providingtargeted support and challenge to individuals at risk of offending or re-offending to assist them in the development of skills and pathways out of crime.
  • Provide positive, diversionary activities for young people and young adults to reduce crime and ASB
  • Contribute to a reduction of crime/ASB in “hotspot areas” through the development and design of safer and accessible spaces or initiatives.
Empower, support and protect victims to reduce the impact and fear of crime / ASB.
  • Provision of emotional and/or practical support to victims of crime and ASB particularly those identified as priority groups within the Community safety Partnership Plan.
  • Targeted support to increase the safety of victims of domestic or sexual violence and improve multi-agency responses to high risk victims.
  • Initiatives to increase the resilience and ability of individuals and /or the community to work together to prevent crime and ASB or to resolve disputes within local communities.

Evidence of Need
Every year the Community Safety Partnership undertakes a strategic assessment to analyse the nature, scale and extent of crime, anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol problems and (re) offending behaviour within the Luton area. The strategic assessment draws on information and data from the full range of partnership agencies and provides a detailed picture of crime patterns and trends within the town utilising a matrix developed in partnership with representatives from key agencies within the CSP. This prioritisation matrix enables the assessment to focus the analysis on areas of significance and concern and allow an opportunity to develop a richer picture and a better understanding of community safety issues.
In consultation with residents, the strategic assessment is then used to identify key priority areas which become the focus for partnership activity in the forthcoming year. These priorities are detailed in the annual Community Safety Partnership Plan.
Other specific indicators of need:
  • Increasing volume of referrals to MARAC and Children’s social care demonstrating the need for support for high risk victims of domestic abuse.
  • Increase in the volume, severity of incidents, and vulnerability of victims referred to the Priority ASB team.

Measure of Success
  • Decreases in the levels of reported crime
  • Reduction in volume of reported incidents of ASB
  • Decreases in the levels of repeat victimisation
  • Decrease in levels of risk faced by victims evidenced by use of standardised risk assessment tools.
  • Improved feelings / perceptions of safety reported by victims and/or the community

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