Basildon on Target for Crime Reduction

An ambitious aim of achieving a 16% reduction in crime is on target thanks to the work of the local Community Safety Partnership*. Although Basildon District was already recognised as a safe area, three years ago the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) agreed ambitious targets with the government in order to achieve a further overall reduction of 16.7% across 10 crime categories. The latest figures show the Partnership to be on course to achieve this by the end of this month.

Bala Mahendran, Chairman of the Crime Reduction Partnership and Chief Executive of Basildon District Council said, “The effectiveness of theBasildon Partnership is recognised nationally and this was reflected in theMinister’s visit last year. I would like to praise all the organisations involved, and especially our Police colleagues, for their effective contributions. The 16% reduction is an outstanding achievement and makesthe District an even safer place.”

Chief Inspector Mark Wheeler, Vice Chair of the Community Safety Partnership added, “I am delighted that the hard work by the Partnership has delivered such visible results. This demonstrates that all members ofthe community have an important part to play in helping to reduce crime.”

The Partnership has co-ordinated a wide range of initiatives including setting-up activities to keep young people off the streets and introducing mobile automatic vehicle numberplate recognition technology. A regional first was the introduction of Community TV to inform people about simple precautions they can take. Other moves have included anti-drugs work and the setting-up of Community Safety Action Zones which are organised in association with their local communities.

The Zones have been the focus for concerted activity over a period of months in specific locations. In addition to reducing anti-social behaviour they have left behind a legacy such as the creation of new drop-in centres.The impact of these and other initiatives has been significant. Provisional figures show that theft of motor vehicles has been reduced by 23%, criminal damage by 18%, theft from vehicles by 17%, criminal damage by 18% and theft from a person by 47%.
The figures will now be audited by the government before the final results are published in July. The work of the CDRP continues and new targets will be agreed over the next few months to continue the drive against anti-social behaviour.

* Basildon’s Community Safety Partnership includes Basildon District Council, Essex Police Basildon District, St Georges Community Housing, Essex County Council, Essex Fire and Rescue Service, Interlock!, Family Mosaic Housing, Drug & Alcohol Service, Swan Housing Association, South Essex YOT, Connexions, Victim Support, GO East, Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals, South West Essex PCT, British Transport Police, The Federation of Small Businesses and the Essex Probation Service