News

Poole's second Crime & Disorder Strategy was launched today as visitors from the Government Office South West (GOSW) took a virtual tour of the town from it's state-of-the-art Control Room.

Touring Poole Town Centre on CCTV and seeing how the bridge is lifted formed part of the visit by Paul Rowlandson, Director of Crime Prevention, (GOSW). The official opening and success of the Control Room was also celebrated as part of the launch of Poole's second Crime & Disorder Strategy.

Councillor Graham Curtis, Vice-Chairman of Poole's Community Safety Forum, said: "The official launch is the culmination of three years hard work since the last Strategy which has led to a larger, stronger and more effective partnership approach to issues regarding community safety. There are still issues in Poole which we need to address and these are being tackled under the current strategy. I look forward to more successes with this new strategy in place helping to ensure that Poole is a safe place to be."

Achievements over the past three years include:

Safe shopping award

Secure car parks

Radio Link system

Town Centre Pub Watch

Responsible Retailers Scheme

Bogus Callers Project

Operation Columbus - personal safety for foreign students project

Anti-Vandalism Campaign

successful Ringmaster system

Drug Action Team

Youth Offending Team

Superintendent Chris Dennis, Divisional Commander, Poole, said: "The Crime & Disorder Partnership has seen the Council and Police develop strong relationships over the past three years which has encouraged other partners to be involved. This has brought a significant reduction in burglary and vehicle crime in Poole. The Town Centre is changing rapidly and with the help of this partnership Poole is developing into an even safer and more enjoyable place to live in and visit."

The CCTV systems for Poole Town Centre and Turlin Moor were a result of a successful bid to the Home Office for funding and are one of a number of crime prevention measures recently implemented in the Town Centre. Aimed to help combat crime and disorder they are used to aid the detection of crime and also play a vital role in creating a safe environment for people within the Town Centre which in turn increases levels of public reassurance. The cameras cover the High Street, part of the Quay, the bus station and the Town Centre car parks.

Poole car parks are another success story from the past year when four of them were awarded Secure Car Park status, with hopes for another two to gain the status by the end of the year.

Extensive public consultation undertaken this year included over 100 people taking part in a one day conference and Discussion Groups specifically targeting Crime & Disorder in Poole. The results, together with the findings of a local, three year crime audit were ranked to set the priorities for the 2002-2005 Crime and Disorder Strategy, the priorities are:

anti-social behaviour including hate crime

domestic burglary

arson

vehicle crime

violent crime

drugs, alcohol or solvent misuse

Copies of the full Crime and Disorder Strategy can be viewed, from 1 August 2002, at all Poole Police stations, all public libraries and the Civic Centre. A smaller A4 summary has also been produced and is available from the same venues or by ringing Community Safety on 01202 633430 or emailing communitysafety@poole.gov.uk.

For further information on Crime & Disorder Partnership successes please contact:

Amanda Bombardiere, Community Safety Officer, tel: (01202) 633045