TACKLING CRIME AND DISORDER IN ST.HELENS – WARD UPDATE

RAINFORD Significant reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour continue to be experienced across the Borough, which reflects the work being done by the Community Safety Partnership and our Community. There are exceptions however, and some wards may have experienced increases in individual crime types. For example, in Rainford, there has been an increase in Criminal Damage and Arson. Partner agencies are continuing to work together to tackle these issues. April to

September 2009

April to September

2010 +/- %

Borough Wide Profile British Crime Survey Comparator Crimes 3125 2626 -16.0% Total Recorded Crime 6017 5969 -0.8% Ward Profile British Crime Survey Comparator Crimes 80 47 -41.3% Total Recorded Crime 166 121 -27.1% Theft of a Vehicle 5 4 -20.0% Theft from a Vehicle 22 7 -68.2% Domestic Burglary 17 12 -29.4% Theft from a Person 0 0 0 Criminal Damage and Arson 18 20 +11.1% Drug Offences 34 18 -47.1% Anti-Social Behaviour calls to the Police

• Rowdy Behaviour 60 39 -35.0% • Nuisance Vehicles 9 5 -44.4% • Street Drinking 0 1 N/A

Merseyside Police - Your Neighbourhood Inspector is Ian Cooper and your Neighbourhood Sergeant is Bob Clewes Crime Questions? St. Helens residents can find out what’s being done to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour across the Borough at a public meeting in the Town Hall on 6th December 2010 at 2:00pm. You can also put your questions to the agencies that make up the St. Helens Community Safety Partnership (CSP). If you are unable to attend or would like to submit a question to the CSP board in advance, simply email sarahmoss@sthelens.gov.uk or telephone 01744 675935.

Borough wide Initiatives

A Safer Summer for St. Helens

Anti-social behaviour in St. Helens is down 21 per cent (300 less incidents) compared with last year - thanks to a groundbreaking summer campaign during July and August.

The Safespace campaign – which saw Merseyside Police teaming up with St Helens Council, Helena Partnerships and other agencies – focused on known summer hotspots including the Duckeries, Taylor Park, Sherdley Park, Queens Park, Clinkham Woods, King George V Park and Mesnes Park from July to August 2010.

Extra police patrols were deployed and neighbourhood officers spoke to over 100 youngsters – either to warn them about their behaviour or to point them towards a range of organised activities.

These included arts and crafts sessions, skate parks, laser quest, graffiti art sessions, drama workshops, writing sessions, rounders tournaments, and The Fire Support Networks Fire Fit Sports Camps.

Councillor Sue Murphy, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Safer Communities and Youth said: “The campaign showed that the council and other agencies making up the Community Safety Partnership are determined to ensure we work together to tackle anti-social behaviour.

“We need to show there are alternatives for young people. Simply moving people on is not an option, and that’s why we’re particularly pleased to see that more than 900 youngsters took part in the various diversionary activities we organised for them.”

The St. Helens Good Guys!

Community Safety Partners were out in force in the Town Centre on Saturday 16th October – for the launch of the annual Safer St. Helens Good Guy Campaign. The 'Good Guys' dropped into Church Square, to raise awareness about the multi-agency campaign, which aims to prevent bonfires in the street by removing combustible materials from public places throughout the autumn period. Town Centre shoppers were given the opportunity to talk to partner agencies about what was being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in the lead up to bonfire night and where able to record their views about anti-social behaviour in The Merseyside Police interactive mobile diary room. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also brought along a Fire Engine and a quad bike – a vehicle used by the Fire Service to tackle anti-social behaviour, whilst the Council’s Recycling and Environmental teams promoted correct waste disposal procedures and spoke about the effects that burning fires could have on the environment.

As part of the campaign, partner agencies targeted hot-spot anti-social behaviour and nuisance fire locations throughout the bonfire period, increasing Policing Patrols and delivering letters to residents advising them that burning bonfires and waste in a way which can cause pollution or nuisance to others could lead to a £5000 fine – with the key message ‘Bin It – Don’t Burn It!’ Partner agencies also held a number of diversionary activities over the October half term to keep young

residents entertained whilst off school – including Fire Fit Sports Camps, Multi-Cage Football, Halloween Parties and a number of spooky arts and crafts sessions in local libraries.

Get In The Zone

St.Helens Council has launched a brand new web site specially designed for young people by young people. The YAZ web site (Youth Action Zone) has been developed in consultation with local youth groups who told the council how they wanted the site to look and the subjects they wanted covering. The Council’s Youth Service also ran a competition, asking groups to name the site – the winning entry, eventually selected by the project team as Youth Action Zone – YAZ. Says Councillor Susan Murphy, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Safer Communities and Youth at St.Helens Council: “The web site will eventually be run by a designated team of young people, who will be responsible for additional topics going up on the site, as well as maintaining the existing content.”

Visit now on www.sthelens.gov.uk/YAZ

Ward Initiatives Arrests, charges and convictions

§ Stanley Quinn, 48 years old of Mansell Road, Liverpool 6 appeared at St Helens Court charged with driving a Vauxhall Vectra motor vehicle on Higher Lane, Crank whilst the proportion of alcohol in his blood exceeded the prescribed limit. He pleaded guilty and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also fined £150.00 with £15.00 victims surcharge and £150.00 court costs.

§ John David Smith, 47 years old formerly of Springfield, Rainford appeared at

Liverpool Crown Court. He had previously been found guilty of a sexual offence and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

§ Stephen Hand, 26 years old from Croxteth Drive, Rainford, drove a motor

vehicle whilst the proportion of alcohol in his breath was over the prescribed limit. He was made subject to a Community Order – consisting of an 8-week curfew monitored by electronic tag. He was disqualified from driving for three years and required to pay £85 costs.

§ On 1st September 2010 a 17-year-old man from Rainford was arrested and

charged with receiving stolen goods, namely stolen car parts. He has been charged with the offence and was due to appear at St Helens Court on 23rd September 2010

Crime Prevention As safe as houses An eight-foot model of a house has been touring the borough to raise awareness of how to keep out burglars Merseyside Police have been out and about with a giant interactive model house, showing residents how to make their home as safe as houses. The house has interactive features, such as push buttons and spin panels, and shows people how to protect their home against a burglary, which is often opportunistic. When an easy target presents itself such as an open window or door or a home where valuables can be seen on display, a thief will often take advantage of the situation and burgle the premises on the ‘spur of the moment’. So the message to residents is to take a few simple steps: § Ensure you local all windows and doors;

§ Never leave a spare key hidden outside near the front door – burglars know all the hiding places;

§ Store your keys in the house away from the front door – burglars know all the hiding places;

§ Keep valuable items out of sight from Windows; § Use timers to switch your lights on when you are out so it looks like someone is

in; § Leave a radio on when you go out; § Park on your driveway if you have one; § Ask a friend, neighbour or family member to keep an eye on your property and

clear your letterbox if you are away for a long period of time; § While on holiday, cancel the delivery of milk so it doesn’t build up on your

doorstep. For further information please contact 0151 709 6010 and ask for your local crime reduction officer.

Priority Setting You said At the last Have Your Say Policing Priority Meeting it was agreed by those present that News Lane, Bushey Lane and Higher Lane, Rainford would become the priority locations due to a number of complaints regarding speeding vehicles causing a danger to pedestrians and other road users We did Merseyside Police, St. Helens Council and Community Safety Partners have been working together to tackle your priority issue. Your local Neighbourhood Policing team has conducted regular patrols in the area of News Lane, Bushey Lane and Higher Lane, along with a number of Speedwatch operations in the area, advising drivers on the consequences of speeding. The North End Tenants and Residents Association have recently completed a survey regarding perceptions of the Rainford area. 80% of people surveyed thought that activities for older people, teenagers and youngsters needed improving. 66% of people felt Very Safe in Day light hours in the area and 34% after dark, with 10% feeling Very Unsafe after dark. 88% of people surveyed thought that the Police Service in Rainford is one of the ‘best things’. Funding was also provided for a new patrol pushbike for your local Community CSO’s to use whilst on patrol.

Useful Contacts 0151 709 6010 – NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER (general enquiries, speak to Neighbourhood Officers) 999 – EMERGENCY 0800 555 111 – CRIMESTOPPERS (providing information about crime in your area anonymously) Further information can be found at – www.merseyside.police.uk St Helens Council Tel: 01744 456789 Email: contactcentre@sthelens.gov.uk