News

10 Oct 01

Tackling Crime In Poole

Poole’s Community Safety Partnership is tackling crime and disorder with the help of an in-depth crime audit.

From April 1998 to March 2001 a total of 24,260 incidents were reported in Poole: a rate of 0.3 crimes per resident and one of the lowest overall crime rates in Dorset. National figures for violent crime show Dorset as the 4th safest county in England and Wales.

Poole’s Harbour ward registers the highest rate of crime whilst Broadstone has the lowest. The most common crimes are vehicle crime, criminal damage and burglary. During the Poole Opinion Panel Survey 57% of people feared burglary as one of the biggest crimes when in fact only 4% were victims. The most common age groups of offenders are 11 - 20 year old males and 21 - 30 year old females although these groups are also the highest victims of crime.

This information together with extensive consultation with local people by the Partnership, which includes representatives from the Council, Police, Probation Services, Health Authority, Fire & Rescue and community groups is helping to develop strategies to reduce levels of crime.

Councillor Mrs Grant-Braham, Chair of the Community Safety Forum, said: "I am sure that all of us would like to see a reduction of crime in the areas where we live and work. The findings of the crime audit will give us a detailed picture of the situation in Poole and help us focus on specific problems. Key agencies and local people have all made a contribution and together we can continue to help fight against crime in our home town."

Amanda Bombardiere, Community Safety Officer, Borough of Poole, said: "Not only does this report allow us to see a complete picture of the town, as we have also divided the findings into five smaller reports it reflects the five Area Committees in the Borough. This means that we can work with local people to develop solutions to problems and ways to reassure the public that quality of life for people in Poole is improved."

Chris Dennis, Superintendent, Poole Police, said: "Although the Police are a obviously a front line figure when dealing with crime and disorder it is not solely their responsibility. Clearly the work that has already been done in partnership with the Borough of Poole and other local agencies has made a difference and we are already reaping the benefits from improved crime rates. With this ongoing work I think we can look forward to Poole being made an ever safer place."

Whilst the audit shows that some crimes are heavily reported it also highlights the need for the partnership agencies in Poole to encourage the general public to actually report crime. Incidents such as anti-social behaviour, domestic violence and those that include vulnerable people are often not reported and the strategy will look at many different ways in which people can report things to ensure that a full picture of crime in Poole is achieved.

An analysis of information from the report will be on display at the next round of Area Committees, details as follows:

Alderney / Bourne Valley / Newtown - Thursday 18 October at 7.00pm

Canford Cliffs / Penn Hill / Parkstone - Tuesday 6 November at 7.00pm

Canford Heath / Canford Magna - Tuesday 13 November at 7.00pm

Broadstone / Creekmoor - Tuesday 27 November at 7.00pm

Hamworthy / Habour / Oakdale - Thursday 29 November at 7.00 pm

Poole’s Crime and Disorder Strategy 1999-2002 contributed to the following successes:

  • £1.4 m CCTV scheme for the Town Centre and Turlin Moor
  • Development of services for women and families fleeing domestic violence including the successful bid for a refuge and satellite accommodation
  • A marked reduction in vehicle crime by 13% in Poole. £1/4 million spent on multi-storey car parks to improve safety resulting in Secured by Design awards.
  • The creation of the Bournemouth and Poole Youth Offending Team whose remit is to reduce youth offending and re-offending by current offenders
  • A new Drug Action Team for Poole which provides a co-ordinated local response to local needs concentrating on education, treatment and targeting those supplying drugs
  • The creation of a Community Safety department within Poole Police Division, creating dedicated officers to this important area
  • Actively pursuing and taking action against anti-social behaviour, Poole was the first area in Dorset to use Anti-Social Behaviour Orders to deal with persistent offenders and have started to progress work in also using Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
  • Decrease of 67% in arson related heath fires in conjunction with Dorset Police and Dorset Fire & Rescue, culminating in a £62,000 grant from the Home Office for further work
  • £52,000 has been raised for a youth facility in Poole - ‘Funseeker’ have worked with other agencies to provide a skate park at Baiter
  • £123,000 ‘Communities Against Drugs’ funds have been allocated to Poole

For more information regarding Area Committee meetings contact: Democratic Services, Borough of Poole, tel: (01202) 633021

For more information regarding the audit or crime and disorder in Poole contact: Amanda Bombardiere, Community Safety Officer, Borough of Poole, tel: (01202) 633045 or email: a.bombardiere@poole.gov.uk

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