25 September 2009, 09/215
New measures to tackle crime in West
Lancashire
Making communities safer is the key message in a new plan to
crack down on crime and disorder across West Lancashire.
The West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership has just
refreshed its partnership action plan for 2009 to ensure that the
borough remains one of the safest in the country to live, work and
visit. Read it on the Council’s website at www.westlancs.gov.uk/communitysafety and
follow the community safety partnership link.
This year there will be a stronger focus on increasing community
confidence because despite the low levels of crime, people still
perceive rates to be higher. There will also be a bigger drive
towards reducing violent offences and combating serious acquisitive
crimes, also property crime, which includes burglary, theft from
people and from vehicles.
The plan outlines how the key agencies - West Lancashire Borough
Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue,
Lancashire Constabulary and NHS Centre Lancashire - will work
together to reduce crime and the fear of crime.
Councillor Paul Greenall, Portfolio Holder for Community
Services, said: "We are working hard to tackle issues of concern to
local communities, such as anti social behaviour, violence,
criminal damage and burglaries, and we want to build on the
significant reduction in crime already achieved over recent years,
with fewer people being victims of crime. We will continue to
address people’s fears and work hard to keep West Lancashire
safe."
The community safety priorities are centred around five key
themes:
-
Tackling crime and disorder
-
Reducing anti social behaviour
-
Reducing the harm to individuals and communities caused by drug
and alcohol misuse
- Addressing quality of life issues
-
Encouraging community cohesion by reducing hate crime and
providing positive activities for young people
The partnership will also be doing work around domestic
violence, reducing fires, road traffic collisions, re-offending,
reducing assault with injury rates, creating safer and cleaner
environments and building resilience to violent extremism.
Bill Taylor, Chairman of the West Lancashire Community Safety
Partnership, said: "We recognise there are significant social and
economic challenges ahead in times of recession and we understand
that the fear of crime and anti social behaviour remains high
compared to actual levels of crime. These are issues that we are
keen to address. Our partnership has a proven track record of
responding to emerging issues that affect our communities and I’m
confident that we will continue to work together in partnership to
tackle crime and the fear of crime."
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