January

2004
 Digest
Information
“To reduce crime and the fear of crime, tackle youth
crime and violent, sexual and drug-related crime,
anti-social behaviour and disorder, increasing safety
in the home and public spaces.”
Home Office Aim 1

This statement confirms our joint commitment to reduce crime and disorder. The Digest
is published quarterly and aims to support crime reduction/community safety practitioners
in police and local authorities working in statutory partnerships by facilitating information
exchange. The Digest is a forum for your initiatives and experiences. Its success depends on
you, the practitioners, contributing your articles. Deadline for copy is given below. Articles
MUST be submitted by this date.
So that everyone can benefit from your work and experience, we ask contributors to
consider both what worked and what didn’t work within their projects. Projects may be well
conceived and still not achieve all their aims; this does not mean they have failed. Please be
brave enough to discuss what aspects did not achieve the expected outcomes. Include as
much information as you can, covering the analysis of the problem and how it was
identified, the response devised and how it was implemented and an assessment of the final
outcomes.

Note:
The inclusion of material in the Digest or reference to any products/services does not
signify that they have been tested or evaluated. Nor should inclusion be thought to confer
‘official’ approval.
You can reproduce material from this Digest, but we ask that you reference CRC and the
originating organisation as the source, do not use the information out of context and
that there are no charges connected with the reproduction of the material.
January 2004
The next Digest will be
Centre Staff with you in April ‘04.

Director Training Team Training Resource Solutions

All contributions must
Steve Trimmins David Fernley Simon Jones
be submitted by
Gill Archibald Michael Hawtin
February 27th 2004.
Support Services June Armstrong Lyndsey Ibbotson
Liz Walton Janet Caton
Peter Cullwick Dee Cooley Administration Unit Contributions to:
Adrienne Jowitt-Thrall Martin Fenlon Mark Ledder Richard Cox
Ann Keen Amanda Form Ruth Whitaker Information Services Team
Christine Morrison Tel: 01347 825065
Information Services Jason Roach Editor Fax: 01347 825097
Jane Carpenter Kim Sutton Jane Jones
Stuart Charman Design/Production Home Office
Richard Cox Michael Hawtin Crime Reduction Centre
John Goldsbrough The Hawkhills, Easingwold,
Abby Hickman York YO61 3EG
For Training or General Enquiries:
Jane Jones Tel: 01347 825060
Kathleen Noble Tel: 01347 825060 Fax: 01347 825099
Richard Wales E-mail: crc@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

January 2004 1
Contents Centre News 4
Win a digital camera! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Staff News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Home Survey Training Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Crime Reduction Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Crime Prevention Initiatives (CPI) Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Active Communities 8
The 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey: people, families and
communities Home Office Research Study 270 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
IDeA Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Crime Fighting Budget gives Power to the People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Building Civil Renewal: A Review of Government Support for Community Capacity
Building and Proposals for Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Evaluation of a contracted community policing experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Second Generation Local Public Service Agreements (PSAs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Crime Reduction Basics Training for Residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
The Philip Lawrence Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Anti-Social Behaviour 13
Graffiti and Vandalism on and around public transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
‘Respect for Nottingham’ Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Getting there: Reducing crime on public transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
A balanced approach to anti-social behaviour: A summary of interventions . . . . . . . .16
Patterns and precursors of adolescent anti-social behaviour: Types, Resiliency and
Environmental Influences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Burglary 17
Operation Footsteps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
"Lock ‘em Out!" Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Business Crime 18
Better Business Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Launch of the Action Against Business Crime Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Designing Out Crime 19
Secured by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Domestic Violence 19
‘It hits home’ - Domestic Violence Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Domestic Violence Poster Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Mid Lincolnshire Action Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Drugs and Alcohol 21
‘FRANK’ Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
‘Make Mine A Safe One’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Experimenting...with Drugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
‘Rat on a Rat’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
‘Dead Drunk’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Fraud 24
Chip and PIN Credit Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
General 24
Community Justice Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Tilley Awards 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
British Community Safety Awards 2003 Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

2 Contents January 2004

Crime reduction and Problem-oriented Policing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Policing Priority Areas - Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
New Grants Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Mobile Advice Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
‘Raising Hope - Reducing Fear’ - Middlesbrough’s approach to tackling Crime and
Disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Illuminated Lux Sign to Promote Crime Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Operation Scorpion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Best Practice in Crime Prevention Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Hate Crime 31
Player Cards Scheme 2003/04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Neighbourhood Wardens 32
Neighbourhood Wardens Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Property Crime 32
Immobilise Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
‘Out of Your hands?’ CD-Rom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
‘Take Stock of Your Lock’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Sexual Offences 33
Sexual Offences Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Town/Shopping Centre Crime 34
Hats off to crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Selling Security: The private policing of public space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Vehicle Crime 35
Football fans reminded to keep vehicles secure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Visual Information Sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
National Vehicle Crime Guidelines and Tactical Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Violent Crime and Street Crime 36 Each article in the Digest
Gun Crime - Latest Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 is highlighted with an
Stay Safe in Southwark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 icon which will define
Work-Related Violence - Lone Worker Case Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 the product described in
Youth Crime 38 that article. They are:
Safe and Sound in Teesside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Making Internet Chat Rooms Safer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Campaign/
Safe Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Initiative
Youth Crime Prevention Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Survival Training for Blaenau Gwent Pupils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Publication
‘Paintbrush Initiative’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Youth Insight - Focus on crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Operation Hawk - Helping Students Stay Safe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Student Safety File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Video
‘Think Safe Keep Safe’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Re-launch of the Student Crime Awareness Publicity Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Anti-Social Behaviour Drama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Website/
‘Think About It’ Youth Crime Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Electronic
Information
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

General/
Exchange
of Ideas/
Conferences

January 2004 Contents 3

C e n t re N e w s
The Digest can be viewed and
downloaded via the Crime
Reduction Website:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/
digest.htm
Copies are also available as a
Portable Document File (PDF).
If you require copies e-mailed
to you in PDF format, please
contact the Information
Services Team who will add
your details to the mailing
list: Tel: 01347 825067.
For further information contact
Simon Jones, Home Office,
Crime Reduction Centre,
The Hawkhills, Easingwold,
York YO61 3EG
Tel: 01347 825081
E-mail:
simon.jones@homeoffice.
gsi.gov.uk
4 Centre News
Win a digital camera!
This issue of the Digest includes a questionnaire, which allows you to have your say on how
the Digest develops. Please take a few moments to complete the questionnaire and return it to
the Information Services Team by 27th February 2004.
All completed forms received by this date will be entered in a prize draw to win a
digital camera.
Staff News
Peter Cullwick joined the Course for Meat Hygiene Inspectors. She will be
Support Team in October and will the key contact in TRS for people wishing
provide administrative assistance to to order publications.
the Centre's Training Team. This is Congratulations to Richard Cox who
Peter's first full-time position since was successful in his promotion to
completing his degree in physics at Information Services Manager last
York University. Whilst studying, Peter September. Richard will be responsible for
worked part-time as a cash office associate managing the Information Services Team,
for TK Maxx, where he gained some who deal with enquiries from crime
invaluable supervisory experience. reduction practitioners nationwide.
Lyndsey Ibbotson joined Training Jane Jones, the editor of the Digest,
Resource Solutions (TRS) went on maternity leave in December. Her
in November. Lyndsey baby is due in January.
transferred from the
Meat Hygiene Service, Whilst Jane is on leave, submissions for the
where she worked on a Digest should be made to Richard Cox in the
Continuing Professional Information Services Team Tel: 01347 825065
Development Programme E-mail: richard.cox@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Home Survey Training Brief
In response to numerous requests, the Centre has produced the Home Survey Training Brief
to help crime reduction practitioners provide community groups with the skills to undertake
home surveys.
The training brief can be used with a wide range of people, including community
groups, community support officers, youth groups and the elderly. It has been written in a
way that can be adapted to specific groups and is broken into 3 two and a half-hour training
sessions to allow for flexibility in its delivery.
The brief contains:
• Guidance on how it should be used.
• A series of lesson plans containing information points, activities and questions, trainer
notes and handouts.
• Feedback forms for each session.
• A list of useful contact details.
The course introduces participants to the ‘Home Security Computer Based Training
Package’, guiding them through each section, whilst allowing for periods of discussion,
reflection and practical home surveys.
The Home Survey Training Brief has been produced as a Word document and is
accompanied by PowerPoint presentations, that can be edited to suit individual needs. It is
available to view and download via the Crime Reduction Website:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/homesurvey
January 2004
 Crime Reduction Website
The Crime Reduction Website has seen a host of new facilities added recently and has
celebrated serving a million pages to its visitors in a month.

Learning Zone
There are a couple of new on-line learning facilities for practitioners, including an
Advanced Reading List which has been created for those who already have some
knowledge of crime reduction but who want to gain a deeper understanding of the field.
Additionally, the New Practitioner's Reading List has been updated with the creation of a
series of topic-specific lists. These can be found in the Virtual Library:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/learningzone/lz_library.htm. There is also a new Glossary
of Crime Reduction Terms:www.crimereduction.gov.uk/learningzone/lz_glossary.htm

Mini-sites
The burglary pages on the Crime Reduction Website are currently being re-developed into 3
mini-sites. The Mini-sites for Burglary, Distraction Burglary and Student Victimisation will be
available in January 2004 through the Mini-sites section at:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/minisites.
Each site is self-contained and designed for easy navigation and information finding.
They carry links to other parts of the Crime Reduction Website as well as to other useful
websites.
If you have any comments or suggestions about the new Mini-sites, we would like to
hear from you.
• Burglary - contact Oscar Ramudo Tel: 020 7035 5260
E-mail: oscar.ramudo@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
• Distraction Burglary - contact Ruth Houston Tel: 020 7035 5245
E-mail: ruth.houston@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
• Student Victimisation - contact Katie Weeks Tel: 020 7035 5258
E-mail: katie.weeks@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

The new Statistics Mini-site has been set up to enable crime reduction practitioners to
access the latest statistics relating to their work quickly and easily. Pages are broken down by
subject and each one contains links to information that is relevant to the work of the crime
reduction community, including Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO)statistics, Crime in
England and Wales figures and International Comparisons. If you have any suggestions for
other information that you think should be included, please let us know.
A new Domestic Violence Mini-site brings together a wealth of information on this
issue, including an extensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
All these Mini-sites, together with those previously published, can be found at:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/minisites.

Monthly Bulletin
We publish a regular monthly e-mail bulletin featuring a
selection of the best items added to the site over the
previous month. The current bulletin, which includes
instructions on how to subscribe, can be found at:
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/monthlybulletin.htm.

January 2004 Centre News 5

 Crime Prevention Initiatives (CPI) Form
CRC maintains a database of crime prevention initiatives, which is used as an information-sharing tool for practitioners with
enquiries for the Information Services Team. Details of initiatives or projects that are planned/ongoing/completed or have been
abandoned, are submitted using the CPI form. This information is then considered for inclusion in a future copy of the Digest and/or
the Ideas Exchange on the Crime Reduction Website.
If you know of an initiative in your area, please send details in using this form to: Richard Cox, Home Office Crime Reduction
Centre, The Hawkhills, Easingwold, York YO61 3EG Tel: 01347 825065 E-mail: richard.cox@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Alternatively
complete the form on-line via the Crime Reduction Website at: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/cpiform.htm

Project Name:

Description Summary:
(the aims and objectives of the project and how it works)

Geographic Location:
National: Project Area:

County: Coverage:
e.g. specific estate, town centre

Lead Organisation:

Partners:

Contact Details:
Name(s):
Organisation:

Address:

Post Code:

Tel: Fax:

E-mail: Website:

Project Status: Planned/Ongoing/Completed/Abandoned (delete as appropriate)

Start Date: End Date:

6 CPI Form January 2004

 Materials: Is there any material to support this initiative?
(e.g. Leaflets, video, report, handbook etc.)
Please detail and attach if possible.

Evaluation: If there is to be a later evaluation, please note here so that we can

(Is there anything follow up at a later date.
documented which gives an
indication of the success or
otherwise of the project ?
Please detail key findings and
where they came from.)

Funding:
(Funding Sources if applicable e.g. Home office, Local Authority, Business, Panel - Cash or Kind e.g. secondment/office space)

Total Cost: £
(if known)

Thank You

I agree to this information being stored on the Home Office database/website Yes No

Office Use Only:

Source: Sub:

Cat: Keyw:
D Ref:

January 2004 CPI Form 7

A c t i ve C o m m u n i t i e s The 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey:
people, families and communities
Home Office Research Study 270
The Home Office Citizenship Survey is a
large-scale survey that will be run
biennially. It plays an important part in the
Home Office development of community
policies, particularly volunteering/active
community participation and civil renewal.
The survey aims to be a major policy tool,
informing both policy development and
implementation and providing information
for the measurement of Home Office Public
Service Agreements.
This report addresses five key themes
relating to citizenship:
• What it means to be a good citizen.
• Perceptions of racial prejudice
and discrimination.
• People’s involvement in their
neighbourhoods.
• Active participation in communities.
• Family networks and parenting
support.
The Citizenship Survey comprises a
nationally representative sample of 10,015
people in England and Wales and an
additional sample of 5,460 people from
minority ethnic groups. Some of the main
findings from the 2001 Survey include:
• 97% of respondents agreed "if people
treated others as they would want to be
treated themselves, society would be a
better place".
• 96% agreed "you can't demand rights
as someone living in the UK without
also accepting the responsibilities".
• 93% agreed "some people take
advantage of public services, without
putting anything back".
• 85% agreed "people are entitled to
basic human rights, regardless of
whether they are a good person
or not".
Copies of this report, published in September
2003 are available free from the Research
Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS),
Communications Development Unit, Room 264,
50, Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 2084
E-mail: publications.rds@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
and can also be viewed and downloaded from
the Home Office Website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/
hors270.pdf

IDeA Website
Improvement and Development Agency

IDeA (the Improvement and Development Agency) has re-developed their Neighbourhood
Renewal Website, making it an invaluable tool for practitioners with an interest in the topic.
The new site includes:
• Beacon case studies.
• A neighbourhood renewal route map.
• How to use information.
• Approaches to community engagement.
• Working effectively with partners.

The site also features the Neighbourhood Renewal Diagnostic Tool, which provides details on
how to assess what people are doing in Neighbourhood Renewal and where to focus future
efforts to become more effective.

For more information visit the IDeA Neighbourhood Renewal Website www.idea-knowledge.gov.
uk/80256d350027cd0f/httppublicpages/d9f36a82706e8fc880256d9c003ab5ce?
opendocument Please note that visitors are required to register and log in before viewing this site.

8 Active Communities January 2004

 Crime Fighting Budget gives Power
to the People
Safer Blaenau Gwent

Safer Blaenau Gwent has awarded over £30,000 to help local people fight crime and
combat disorder in their neighbourhoods.
The money, which forms part of the Home Office’s Building Safer
Communities grant, is being used to fund a wide range of local crime
prevention and community safety initiatives. The county borough’s 4 Crime
Prevention Panels will each benefit from the money and plan to use it to
support the area’s first ever ‘Crucial Crew’ for all year 6 primary school children. A new
Blaenau Gwent Neighbourhood Watch Association will also be developed, together with a
community crime-fighting fund, which will enable a variety of local groups to apply for
finance to support individual crime reduction projects.
Other initiatives being developed as a result of the funding include an arson reduction
and awareness-raising campaign involving schools and public transport, as well as the
creation of a new Licensing Forum to tackle alcohol-related disorder. A series of community
safety road shows are also planned and a survey will be conducted to determine how crime
and the fear of crime affect the lives of the local people.

For more information contact Stephen Carr, Community Safety Officer, Blaenau Gwent County Borough
Council, Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale NP23 6XB
Tel: 01495 355683 Fax: 01495 301255 E-mail: community.safety@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

Building Civil Renewal: A Review of

Government Support for Community
Capacity Building and Proposals for
Change
Home Office

Building capacity of both individuals and
groups within communities is central to
the process of civil renewal, enabling local
people to develop their own solutions to
the issues that affect them most.
Community groups have a crucial role to
play in this re-invigoration of public life.
The Home Office Civil Renewal Unit
is inviting comments and views on the
‘Building Civil Renewal: A Review of
Government Support for Community
Capacity Building and Proposals for
Change’ consultation document. The
closing date for responses is 26 March
2004.
The proposals for change outlined in
the report relate to:
• The provision of support to
community groups and community
capacity building activities at
community level, whether that be a
neighbourhood, locality, parish or
across a community of interest.
January 2004
• The policies and practices that govern
the way that central, regional and local
government supports community
engagement and thus civil renewal,
through community capacity building
initiatives and programmes.
With both proposals, the Government’s
focus is on how to make better use of For further information contact
existing resources to achieve policy Vandna Gohil, Policy Advisor,
objectives. A number of departments have Community Development
made strong statements of commitment in Team, Home Office, Civil
the report and the Civil Renewal Unit will Renewal Unit, Active
be working with them as they implement Communities Directorate,
those commitments in 2004 onwards. 3rd Floor, Allington Towers,
Readers of the Digest are invited to use 19 Allington Street, London
the consultation document as a resource to SW1E 5EB
stimulate discussion with local community Tel: 020 7035 5304
groups and Crime and Reduction Disorder E-mail:
Partnerships (CDRPs). Feedback should be vandna.gohil@homeoffice.
e-mailed to: Ccbr@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk gsi.gov.uk
Active Communities 9
 Evaluation of a contracted community
policing experiment
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
In 2000, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
(JRF) and North Yorkshire Police entered
into a formal agreement to purchase
additional levels of police cover for the
village of New Earswick near York. The
village is not a high crime area, however it
reflects the kinds of concerns over security
and the growing demands for reassurance
policing that have become commonplace in
many areas of Britain.
The study evaluated the implemen-
tation and impact of the contracted
community policing initiative over a 3-year
period, using a variety of social research
methods. The data collected combined
police recorded crime figures and incident
logs, interviews with residents and stake-
holders both within and outside the village,
the activities of the designated officers and
observational data. 'Baseline' and 'repeat'
surveys were conducted, which provided
robust responses from approximately half
of all households in the village.
This report details the 3 year evaluation
of this experimental initiative and found
that:
• Owing to a number of implementation
difficulties, the initiative failed to meet
stated aims and was terminated early.
• Crime and the fear of crime increased
during the project's implementation
and resident's satisfaction with the
local police declined.
The main obstacles to success were:
• lack of clarity toward time usage and
different partner's roles and
responsibilities
“
...additional policing and security
measures may serve to heighten levels of
anxiety and harden lines of difference among
10 Active Communities
the local people.
• insufficient consideration given to
what community policing would
include and how it might achieve the
project's aims
• ineffective management of resident's
expectations of what the project could
realistically deliver
• the manner in which the designated
officer was drawn away from dedicated
work within the village to cover for
other colleagues or wider emergencies,
since operational control remained
within the police
• considerable turnover of police staff
• lack of appropriate formal mechanisms
for accounting for the service provided
and the nature of any progress made.
The report concludes that the provision
of additional policing and security
measures may serve to heighten levels of
anxiety and harden lines of difference
among the local people. The demand for
policing or security solutions to local order
problems may fail to tackle more
fundamental social issues underlying these
difficulties.
Copies of the full report entitled 'Great
expectations: Contracted community policing in
New Earswick, priced £13.95 plus £2.00 P & P,
published in October 2003, are available from
York Publishing Services, 64 Hallfield Road,
Layerthorpe, York YO31 7ZQ
Tel: 01904 430033.
The findings are also available free from the
same address.
These publications are also available to
download via the JRF Website:
www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/
socialpolicy/023.asp
” January 2004
 Second Generation Local Public Service
Agreements (PSAs)
Home Office

The Government and Local Government Association (LGA) have been involved in the
development of a second generation of local Public Service Agreements (PSAs), in association
with a number of other authorities. Agreements have been concluded or are nearing
conclusion with nearly all the Shire Counties, Unitary Authorities, Metropolitan Districts and
London Boroughs. For further information on the
Public Service Agreements set out clearly each department’s plans to deliver results and strand of work regarding
provide a clear statement of priorities and direction. They bring together the aim, objectives voluntary and community
and performance targets for each of the main Government departments. interests, contact Balraj
The second generation of local PSAs is just one element of the development of a new Sandhu, Home Office, Active
partnership framework between central and local government, working with its stakeholders Communities Unit, 3rd Floor,
to improve public services. Most authorities have made good use of partnership working in Allington Towers,
their original PSAs. Ministers are keen to ensure that all partners continue to work together 19 Allington Street,
to develop solutions and make improvements that matter to the lives of people in the local London SW1E 5EB
community. The Active Community Unit in the Home Office is working with partners to Tel: 020 7035 5307
encourage local PSAs to take into account voluntary and community issues, and the potential E-mail: balraj.sandhu2@
for local PSAs on community engagement. homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Crime Reduction Basics Training for

Residents
Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership

The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) hensive information pack on drug and
in Hyndburn has been involved in co- alcohol abuse, which is also currently being
ordinating the delivery of a crime reduction developed.
and problem solving course to local At the end of the course, people are
residents. asked to complete a monitoring and
Utilising the Home Office Crime evaluation form to ensure that it is being
Reduction Basics Training package as a delivered to the widest audience, as well as
foundation, the course aims to introduce providing information on any gaps in the For further information contact
individuals to the key principles of crime training. The feedback received so far has PC Richard Green, Partnership
and disorder reduction and encourages been very positive and people have found Officer, Hyndburn First,
them to get involved in reducing crime, the topics covered informative and Suite 16, The Globe Centre,
particularly anti-social behaviour, in their extremely useful. The training has also Accrington BB5 0RE
area. Basic drugs and alcohol awareness, helped to raise people’s awareness of crime Tel: 01254 600640
together with fire safety have also been and the impact it can have on the E-mail: richard.green@
incorporated within the training. The course community. hyndburnfirst.co.uk
is delivered by CSP staff and trained Police
Community Support Officers and consists
of two 3-hour sessions, the first on crime
reduction/prevention and the second split
between drugs awareness and fire safety.
All participants who complete the
course receive a framed certificate in Crime
Reduction Basics, together with a telephone
e-mailer machine, which enables them to
receive community safety and fire safety
information directly from the Police and
Fire Service. Information leaflets on local
drug services are issued and a compre-

January 2004 Active Communities 11

 The Philip Lawrence Awards
Home Office
The annual Philip Lawrence Awards
scheme was established in 1997 and stands
as a memorial to the work of the Head
Teacher murdered outside his school in
Maida Vale, London whilst protecting a
pupil from attack. The scheme acclaims and
rewards groups of young people for
outstanding achievements in good
citizenship. Winners are frequently active in
projects that attempt to reduce crime in
their neighbourhoods.
Some of last year’s winners include:
• CityZEN - A group from Hackney and
Tower Hamlets who worked hard to
promote the benefits of active
citizenship and drew their peers away
from negative influences.
• Junior Stars - Aged 11-14, these
young people from Sunderland set up a
junior residents and tenants group to
“ ...acclaims
and rewards
help deal with anti-social behaviour.
They won the first-ever award of its
kind in the North East. The community
police officer reported that as a result
groups of of their efforts, complaints to the
police from locals about young people
young people were down 60%.
• Meole Estate BMX Track - This group
for from Shrewsbury captured the
imagination of bored and frustrated
outstanding peers on a local housing estate, by
raising funds for and supervising the
achievements creation of a BMX track. The council
and Mayor have since called on the
in good group to give advice on other projects.
Crime rates on the estate are reported
citizenship. to have dropped by 30%.
• RUBIK - Three 14 year-olds from
Winners are Dagenham took action on their
deprived estate to deal with youth
frequently crime. They set up a consultation
mechanism to represent the views of
active in their peers and organised a
football project.
projects that
attempt to
reduce
crime...
”
12 Active Communities
• Ultrawheelz Skatepark - This project
was led by three 17 year-olds in
Nottingham who raised £54,000 and
created a skate-park in a community
where there was very little to occupy
the young people. It has been a
tremendous success, with users coming
in by bus from all parts of the county
and as a result, the town has been
given the Twin-Town Award for the
best community project of the year.
This year’s winners, who received their
awards from the Home Secretary in
December, include several who have been
successful in combating crime:
• Hens Theatre Company, Billericay,
Essex - They aim to teach and inform
young people about Internet-related
crime and abduction through dramatic
performances.
• Kotchin, Wood Green, London - This
project aims to combat prejudice
against refugees and remove young
people’s inclination to carry weapons.
• Making a Difference, Manor Park,
Sheffield - This initiative aims to
empower young people through skills
training and peer-led
education groups.
• Oi Magazine, New Cross, London -
This magazine enables young people to
express their views and tackle
problems of safety, both on the streets
and in schools, as well as tackling
issues relating to substance abuse.
The scheme is now run by a
management team led by Kids’ Clubs
Network and the London Institute. It is
given a grant from the Active Community
Unit and supported by the Youth Justice
Board.
For further information contact Graham Boiling,
Home Office, Active Communities Unit,
3rd Floor, Allington Towers, 19 Allington Street,
London SW1E 5EB
Tel: 020 7035 5300
E-mail: graham.boiling@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
January 2004
 Anti-Social Behaviour
Graffiti and Vandalism on and around
public transport
Department for Transport

In 2002/03 the British Crime Survey (BCS) found that people living in areas with high
levels of disorder were much more likely to be concerned with crime and personal security.
The 'broken windows' theory, developed in the United States, proposes that if a broken
window is left un-repaired, other windows will soon be broken in response to the message
that 'no one cares' for the area. This creates the perception that crime in general is rising and
so people are less inclined to use public places. With fewer people using public places, there
is less deterrence to crime and so rising crime perceptions become a reality.
Vandalism ranges from scribbling on a wall, the daubing of political slogans, smashing
bus shelter windows or endangering life by placing a concrete post in the path of a train. In
England and Wales there was a 4% fall in reported criminal damage between 2001/02 and
2002/03 to 1.109 million offences. These included:
• arson (5%)
• vehicle damage (39%)
• criminal damage to dwellings (27%)
• criminal damage to other buildings and other targets (telephone boxes etc 29%).

The British Crime Survey (BCS) identified vandalism, even against private property, as
one offence least likely to be reported to the police. The main reason appears to be that it is
either not considered serious enough by the victim, or people think that the police will not
be able to catch the perpetrator. Vandalism has a high rate of repeat victimisation (30%) with
26% of vehicle vandalism and 32% of all other vandalism victims being targeted at least
twice in a 12-month period. Incidents of criminal damage reported through the BCS have
fallen over the last 4 years.
Graffiti and vandalism impact on public transport through:
• cleaning, repairs, replacements, passenger infrastructure and rolling stock
• design and security costs to prevent activity including CCTV, staffing and
security fencing
• dangers to travelling public and delays to services
• reduced revenue due to withdrawn services and public travel patterns affected by
fear of crime
• perpetrator danger due to track trespass or unsafe use of buses or trams.

Investment to prevent and reduce graffiti and vandalism must be long-term and
sustained. A framework for crime prevention can be useful in developing a comprehensive
approach:
• Law enforcement - measures that enforce the law against perpetrators through the
criminal justice system.
• Situational crime prevention - measures that are designed to reduce opportunities,
reduce rewards, or increase the chances of catching perpetrators.
• Criminality prevention - measures that are designed to reduce the risk of potential
perpetrators from becoming involved in crime or anti-social behaviour.

Copies of this report published in October 2003, are available to download from the Department for
Transport Website: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_mobility/documents/
page/dft_mobility_024496.hcsp

“
...'broken windows' theory...if a broken window is left
un-repaired, other windows will soon be broken in response
to the message that 'no one cares' for the area.
January 2004
”
Anti-Social Behaviour 13
 Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan
Home Office
The Government has published an action
plan in a bid to reduce anti-social
behaviour that includes a £75 million cash
boost over three years for local authorities
and communities. The action plan is the
second phase of the Government’s work to
tackle anti-social behaviour and builds
upon the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill and
Anti-Social Behaviour Unit’s efforts in
gathering and promoting solutions that
work.
The new action plan includes:
• £22 million funding - strengthening
the Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership’s (CDRP) response to
anti-social behaviour.
• Local Trailblazers - priority areas
targeting anti-social behaviour such as
nuisance neighbours, begging and
environmental crime.
• Anti-social behaviour prosecutors - a
new team of specialist prosecutors who
will work with local communities to
spearhead fast, effective prosecution of
anti-social behaviour offenders.
• Action Line - a new phone line and
website helping local agencies and
practitioners deal effectively with
anti-social behaviour, giving advice
“ ...to reduce
anti-social
and information. The action line and
website will be launched in early 2004
alongside a nationwide training
programme. This will ensure the
behaviour that police, local authorities, housing
officers, environmental health officers
includes a and other key people know what
powers they have and how they can
£75 million best use them to tackle
anti-social behaviour.
cash boost • Sentencing Guidelines - new guidance
for magistrates dealing with anti-social
over three behaviour offences, ensuring
appropriate and consistent
years...
” punishments across the country.
The plan targets 10 'Trailblazer' areas
that will each receive support from the
Anti-Social Behaviour Unit to address
community problems. These include:
• Nuisance Neighbour Trailblazers -
Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield,
Sunderland.
14 Anti-Social Behaviour
• Abandoned Car Trailblazers - London,
Liverpool.
• Begging Trailblazers - Brighton, Bristol,
Leeds, Camden, Westminster.
In particular, targets will include:
• ‘Families from hell’, where neighbour
nuisance affects the health and well-
being of individuals and communities
against the small numbers of families
whose persistent and serious anti-
social behaviour wrecks
neighbourhoods.
• Intimidating and thuggish behaviour.
• Environmental crime, such as
abandoned cars and graffiti including:
• Operation Scrap-it - from October
2004, abandoned cars in London
and Liverpool will be removed
within 72 hours.
• Operation Gate-it - a fund for
communities to tackle crime and
grime in alleyways. Further details
will be announced in
February 2004.
• Operation Scrub-it - anti-graffiti
initiatives, including a national
database of ‘taggers’, a poster
campaign across transport
networks to encourage reporting
and pilots in 12 areas to enable
local authorities to clean-up street
furniture.
• 100 days clean up - targeting 10
estates for intensive and
sustainable clean up.
• Tackling begging:
• Targeted action to reduce begging
in the 30 Criminal Justice
Interventions Programme areas
tackling drug - related crime.
• Trailblazers in Brighton, Bristol,
Leeds, Camden and Westminster to
significantly reduce begging.
The Government’s Anti-social Behaviour Action
Plan, published in October 2003 can be
downloaded from the Home Office Website:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/
asb_action_plan.html
(please be aware that this is a large file and
therefore may take a long time to download).
January 2004
 ‘Respect for Nottingham’ Strategy
Nottingham City Council

The Nottingham Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) have considered the
issues linked to anti-social behaviour and drugs as a priority since they set up their
partnership a number of years ago. An enormous amount of work has been undertaken to
tackle these problems, including the introduction of a strategy and action plan, which seeks
to build upon the work to date.
The aim of the ‘Respect for Nottingham’ Strategy is to clean up the city’s streets by
tackling begging, prostitution, drug dealing and general anti-social behaviour, in order to
improve the quality of life for local residents. The city council, in partnership with other
leading agencies, have developed numerous initiatives including establishing a wide CCTV
network, dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour Team and introduction of Neighbourhood Wardens
and Police Community Support Officers.
The objectives identified in the strategy include reductions in:
• begging by January 2004 For more information contact
• street prostitution by December 2004 Jamie O’Reilly, Nottingham City
• street drug dealing by April 2005 Council, The Guildhall, South
• anti-social behaviour in local neighbourhoods by April 2005. Sherwood Street, Nottingham
NG1 4BT Tel: 0115 915 4082 or
The strategy document sets out the aims and objectives in full, a number of key actions visit their website:
and an idea of how this fits in to the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership framework www.nottingham.gov.uk/
as a whole. temps/respect.asp

Getting there: Reducing crime on public

transport
NACRO

This report suggests that £1/4 billion is transport crosses administrative

lost each year due to incidents of vandalism
and trespass on public transport.
Those most affected by the disruption
are people who are reliant on public
transport and the report suggests that
society is effectively guilty of discrimi-
nating against people unable to afford or
drive their own private form of transport.
The socially excluded are most affected
by fear of public transport crime. In
deprived wards, where the risk of being a
victim of crime is greatest, around 50% of
households do not own a car. Fear of crime
is also referred to as a major hindrance to
boosting passenger numbers, deterring
those who do have private vehicles from
making more use of public services.
Some key findings, recommendations
and examples of good practice contained
within the report include:
• Developing a crime prevention strategy
is difficult for local authorities and
Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships (CDRPs) because public
boundaries.
• CDRPs should involve local public
transport providers and the British
Transport Police (BTP) in gathering
information on the crime problems
affecting public transport in the
locality and together agree and
implement strategies to combat them.
• London Underground estimates that it
would cost them £10 million to Copies of this report, published
replace etched glass on all its rolling in September 2003 and priced
stock. The estimated cost of graffiti to £5.00 can be obtained from
London boroughs and transport NACRO Publications,
operators is around £13 million 169 Clapham Road,
per year. London SW9 0PU
• Crime is costing Stagecoach Tel: 020 7840 6427
Manchester £500,000 per year. E-mail:
However the report cites its communications@nacro.org.uk
anti-vandalism strategy, aimed at Copies can also be viewed and
building bridges with local children as downloaded from their
an example of good practice. Similarly website:
London Central Buses employs a www.nacro.org.uk/
Schools Liaison Officer to encourage templates/publications/
them to report incidents of vandalism. briefingItem.cfm/
2003090400-csps.htm

January 2004 Anti-Social Behaviour 15

 A balanced approach to anti-social
behaviour: A summary of interventions
NACRO

Copies of this report, published
in October 2003 and priced
£5.00 can be obtained from
NACRO Publications, 169,
Clapham Road,
London SW9 0PU
Tel: 020 7840 6427.
Copies can also be viewed and
downloaded via their website:
www.nacro.org.uk/
templates/publications/
briefingItem.cfm/
2003110700-csps.htm
Last year NACRO published their paper
‘Tackling anti-social behaviour: what
really works’, which highlighted
examples of work carried out by agencies
across the country, successful in tackling
anti-social behaviour. Following on from
this report, they have produced a paper,
which aims to illustrate what a balanced,
holistic strategy involves.
The report argues that focusing on one
type of intervention at the expense of
others will result in a short-term fix, to the
detriment of a long-term solution. It
suggests that the 3 main elements to
tackling anti-social behaviour include:
• There should be a mix of
interventions, including prevention,
education and enforcement.
• Interventions should be targeted at 3
levels: universal, groups or localities
particularly at risk, and individuals
particularly at risk.
• Interventions should both target risk
factors and seek to maximise
protective factors.

Patterns and precursors of adolescent anti-

social behaviour: Types, Resiliency and
Environmental Influences
Australian Institute of Family Studies and Crime Prevention Victoria

The Australian Institute of Family Studies and Crime Prevention Victoria have produced their
second report examining the development of anti-social behaviour within a representative
sample of Victorian adolescents in Australia. The study follows the development and
wellbeing of a group of Victorian children from infancy to young adulthood. The initial
sample included 2,443 infants (aged 4 - 8 months) and their parents, representative of the
Victorian population. Thirteen waves of data were collected annually or biennially via mail
surveys, and parents, teachers and the young people themselves have completed question-
naires at various stages during the project.
This second report focuses on 4 specific issues relating to adolescent anti-social
behaviour:
• Similarities of different precursors and pathways for violent and non-violent adolescent
anti-social behaviour.
• Factors preventing 'at risk' children from engaging in later adolescent behaviour.
• Local area characteristics influencing engagement in adolescent anti-social behaviour.
• Regularity of anti-social behaviour at 19 - 20 years of age, and change in antisocial acts
over the adolescent years.

This report, published in
October 2003 can be viewed
and downloaded from the
Australian Institute of Family
Studies and Crime Prevention
Website:
www.aifs.org.au/atp/
pubs/patterns.html
The findings of this report identify distinct developmental pathways and risks for violent
and non-violent adolescent anti-social behaviour. A range of personal and environmental
factors was shown to influence an individual's progression along particular pathways and to
divert 'at risk' children from a problematic pathway. Effects of local area characteristics on
involvement in adolescent anti-social behaviour were not found, but the study's ability to
investigate this issue was limited. In terms of trends across time, rates of most types of anti-
social behaviour continued to decline as the young men and women entered adulthood,
although some remained relatively high.
Overall, the findings present valuable insights into the development and continuation of
adolescent anti-social behaviour and provide significant Victorian evidence for early
intervention and prevention strategies.

16 Anti-Social Behaviour January 2004

 B u rg l a r y
Operation Footsteps
West Midlands Police

Operation Footsteps has been set up in Birmingham in a bid to reduce burglaries in multi-
occupied homes, predominantly those housing students.
The focus of the campaign is on freshers moving into halls of residence and second year
students relocating to private accommodation for the first time. Posters have been advertised
around the local campus, together with specially designed beer mats placed in pubs and
clubs. High-visibility patrols have also been stepped up in the most vulnerable areas and
officers have distributed luminous ‘footprint’ flyers incorporating various crime reduction
messages.
The idea for the footprint came from an initiative, which addressed the problem of
sneak-in burglaries in homes across the area. Officers posted the footprint flyer through
letterboxes, where owners had left windows or doors insecure.

For more information contact Det C/Insp Russell Smith, West Midlands Police, Police Station, 53 Rose
Road, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9LL Tel: 0121 428 6172 E-mail: r.smith@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

‘Lock ‘em Out!’ Campaign

Leeds City Council

Buses travelling on routes in Leeds City advertisements, the police and university
Centre will display eye-catching advertise- security staff will distribute leaflets and
ments as part of an initiative aimed at posters during patrols on campus and visits
reducing sneak-in type burglaries. to student events. These resources will be
The high profile campaign, which has made available to students at colleges and
been funded by Leeds Community Safety universities across the country.
and Target Buses, alerts the public to the
fact that 1 in 4 burglaries is carried out due For more information contact Cathy Carlill,
to an unlocked door and an opportunist Communications Officer, Leeds Community
thief. The adverts remind people to be extra Safety Team, Leeds City Council, Leeming House,
vigilant during the darker evenings and to Vicar Lane, Leeds LS2 7JF
take basic security measures to reduce their Tel: 0113 395 0797
chances of becoming a victim of this type E-mail: cathy.carlill@leeds.gov.uk
of crime.
Students in particular have been
identified as suffering from sneak-in type
burglaries, because
they are away from
home or living in the
city for the first time.
In addition to the bus

January 2004 Burglary 17

Business Crime Better Business Partnership
Tayside Police

Tayside Police, in partnership with Perth and Kinross Trading Standards Service, have
launched an initiative that aims to combat the problem of rogue traders in the area.
The Better Business Partnership is a voluntary registration scheme for smaller
businesses, which will help them to comply with the law, while improving consumer
protection. All types of business can apply for membership and initial applications must be
made directly to Trading Standards, who make an assessment of the applicant's premises by
carrying out an inspection. Those who meet the strict criteria will be accepted for the
scheme. The business may also be subject to random follow-ups and checks by Trading
Standards to ensure the requirements of the scheme are maintained.
Members are committed to providing a quality service, as well as promoting a high
standard of customer satisfaction. They must comply with the laws relating to product and
environmental safety, consumer credit, pricing and weights and measures.
Trading Standards will keep a list of members to enable the public to enquire about
businesses claiming to be associated with the scheme. A full list of members is also available
on the Perth and Kinross Council's Website: www.pkc.gov.uk/livinglearn/environment/
betterbusiness.htm.
The scheme will be evaluated in September 2004.

For more information contact PC Donald Campbell, Crime Prevention Officer, Crime Management Unit,
Tayside Police, Western Division HQ, Barrack Street, Perth PH1 5SF Tel: 01738 892937 Fax: 01738 892929
E-mail: donald.campbell@tayside.pnn.police.uk

Launch of the Action Against Business

Crime Group
Home Office

The Home Office has announced the
formation of a new national action group
to tackle business related crime. The
"Action Against Business Crime Group" is a
joint venture between the Home Office and
the British Retail Consortium to boost the
work of local Business Crime Reduction
Partnerships.
Business Crime Reduction Partnerships
bring retailers and businesses together with
police and local authority representatives to
exchange information on known offenders.
Many partnerships have set up radio link
schemes between retailers and businesses,
as well as the sharing of crime prevention
advice. The group’s main focus will be to
support and develop partnerships in local
areas and to create links between business,
Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships
(CDRPs) and other relevant community
groups. Six regional managers will be
appointed to take forward this work, with
the aim of establishing 100 new partner-
ships in towns and cities across England
and Wales by March 2006.
The action group will also act as a
National Association for Business Crime
Reduction Partnerships and will develop an
accreditation scheme setting out the
standards and objectives that Business
Crime Reduction Partnerships will work
towards to reduce business-related crime in
their local areas. The national association
will help to ensure that crime issues
affecting businesses are well understood
and will encourage the sharing of best
practice in reducing crime. This will benefit
large and small businesses alike, as well as
having a real impact on the ground in
reducing crime in towns and shopping
centres.
For further information contact Mark Nicholas,
Home Office, Business Crime Team, 1st Floor,
85 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6PD
Tel: 020 7411 5590
E-mail: mark.nicholas@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

18 Business Crime January 2004

 Crime
Designing Out
Secured by Design
Strathclyde Police

Strathclyde Police have been working in profiling individual areas

partnership with the recently formed using GIS mapping and
Glasgow Housing Association to introduce surveys to be able to
the concept of Secured by Design to over identify areas not reflected
80,000 houses in some of the worst areas in recorded crime figures.
in the country. Results from both the
The Glasgow Housing Association took survey and crime profiling
over the ownership of all Glasgow City will then be collated and
Council housing in March 2003, making it issued to Glasgow Housing
the biggest Registered Social Landlord in Association’s local housing
Britain. The Association will spend £2 organisations, who can
billion on regenerating Glasgow’s housing then prioritise any issues
over the next 10 years. So far, this huge task identified in their locations
has involved a 2-step approach. The first has and look at how to
included assisting the Housing Association address areas of concern
to adopt the principles of Secured by using Secured by Design
Design, which they have done and which techniques.
now feature at the centre of their
Investment and Regeneration Strategy. Over For further information contact
6,000 external doors and 20,000 windows Sgt Graeme MacDiarmid,
will be fitted to the Secured by Design Architectural Liaison Officer, Glasgow Housing
standard by the end of the year. Association, Granite House, 177 Trongate,
The second step of the approach Glasgow G1 5HF
involves a review of the existing external Tel: 0141 274 0537 Fax: 0141 287 5642
environmental crime prevention features. E-mail: graeme.macdiarmid@gha.org.uk
This review will be undertaken by crime

Vi o l e n c e
‘It hits home’ - Domestic Violence
Campaign
London Borough of Brent
Domestic
A major campaign to tackle domestic violence was launched in September last year by Brent’s
Safe Haven Community Safety Team.
The campaign’s poster and leaflet, which features the slogan ‘It hits home’, aims to
encourage those suffering from domestic violence to report it and seek help. It is particularly
targeted at black and ethnic minority communities, where under-reporting in the Asian
community and a lack of provision for Afro-Caribbeans has been identified.
Numerous support groups offering practical help and confidential advice were set up last
summer in conjunction with the campaign, including regular group meetings at Brent Victim
Support, the African and Caribbean Resource Centre and the local community centre.

For more information contact Rasheed Ogunlaru, Corporate Communications Officer,

Policy and Regeneration, London Borough of Brent, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley,
Middlesex HA9 9EX Tel: 020 8937 1067 Fax: 020 8937 1064

January 2004 Designing Out Crime/Domestic Violence 19

 Domestic Violence Poster Campaign
Leeds City Council

A high profile poster campaign
has been set up in West
Yorkshire to encourage women
who suffer domestic violence
to contact agencies that offer
support and advice.
Volunteers from groups
backing the campaign are
travelling around the area
in a bid to persuade local
businesses, health and
leisure centres and police
stations to advertise the
posters, which feature
contact details for
their organisations.
The posters also
contain a removable
post-it style note with the agencies contact
details, which can be slipped discreetly into
a pocket or handbag for future reference.
The campaign is being run by the
Leeds Inter-agency Project (LIAP) in
association with various other organisa-
tions who provide support and guidance on
domestic violence issues.
For more information contact Cathy Carlill,
Communications Officer, Leeds Community
Safety Team, Leeds City Council, Leeming House,
Vicar Lane, Leeds LS2 7JF
Tel: 0113 395 0797
E-mail: cathy.carlill@leeds.gov.uk

Mid Lincolnshire Action Partnership

Lincolnshire Police

This initiative was set up to consider how a policy could be introduced in a rural area of Mid
Lincolnshire with the aim of tackling domestic violence.
Building on previous experience of using police radio alarm systems, a new unit that
would provide a more reliable communication link and increased reassurance, was
introduced. Funding was obtained through the Mid Lincolnshire Action Partnership to
purchase alarm systems capable of signalling for help via normal telephone or mobile phone
lines. Because data is forwarded directly to the police, this results in an immediate response.
Since the introduction of the scheme, victims of domestic violence, in what is largely a
rural and widespread population, have felt significantly reassured and confident that help
and advice is readily available. Additional alarms have been purchased to be able to continue
with the scheme. It is intended to extend it to other areas.

For more information contact PC Tim Booth, Crime Reduction/Local Authority Liaison Officer, Lincolnshire
Police, Linsay Hill, Lincolnshire Development, Beech House, Witham Park, Waterside South,
Lincoln LN5 7JH Tel :01522 823400 E-mail: tim.booth@lincs.pnn.police.uk

“ ...alarm systems capable

of signalling for help via
normal telephone or
mobile phone lines.
”
20 Domestic Violence January 2004
 D r u g s a n d Al c o h o l
‘FRANK’ Campaign
Home Office, Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills

The national FRANK campaign was launched in May 2003 and targets 11 - 21 year olds and
the parents of 11 - 18 year olds. FRANK aims to give young people credible advice and
information about any drug issue and will also help parents to get information to enable
them to talk to their children with confidence about drugs.
FRANK can be used locally for specific drug campaigns and on becoming a registered
user, members receive a campaign kit including leaflets, posters, stickers, postcards, a
CD-ROM and ideas for local action. The campaign also incorporates a website
www.talktofrank.com, which features current public campaign information.
Some of the local FRANK projects that have taken place across the country since the
launch of the campaign include:

FRANK in Cornwall
Cornwall saw numerous FRANK campaigns during the summer of 2003, with an estimated
1/4 million people in the South West being made aware of the scheme through local events.
Roadshows ran across the region featuring the distribution of FRANK kits, together with
pens, balloons and bags. Both parents and children were able to seek advice and information
on drug issues.

FRANK in Hertfordshire
A FRANK football tournament for young people was set up in Hertfordshire by the FRANK
Action Group, who aim to promote initiatives across the county. Those entering the
tournament were provided with life skills education and FRANK drugs information and
advice. Football players in Stevenage can be seen wearing the FRANK logo at all their home
games and the club also advertises the campaign on the pitch.

FRANK in Telford
The ‘Peace and Harmony Project’ was launched in May 2003, covering issues of harm
reduction and community safety. The campaign was designed and developed by young
people in the area and a series of leaflets and posters was produced featuring messages such
as ‘Don’t Drink and Drop’ and ‘Don’t let a friend die of an overdose’. The leaflets and posters
also include details of the FRANK logo, contact number and website.

Initial research has shown that the campaign is definitely reaching its target audience
and is being well received. 70% of parents and 84% of young people have confirmed that
they are fully aware of the scheme. Future developments include the continued publication of
the FRANK Action Updates.

For more information or to register for the campaign visit www.drugs.gov.uk/campaign

or E-mail: FRANK@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

January 2004 Drugs and Alcohol 21

 ‘Make Mine A Safe One’
Northumbria Police

Northumbria Police, in association with the Federation Brewery have launched an updated
campaign, which raises awareness of the dangers related to spiked drinks. The original
project featured in the October 2001 edition of the Digest.
Over 20,000 leaflets, posters and beer mats featuring the slogan 'Make Mine A Safe One'
have been distributed around the region's licensed premises, advising customers to
protect their drinks from people who might try to add other, possibly illegal
substances, resulting in devastating consequences.
Students about to sample North East nightlife for the first time were among
the initial group of people to receive the leaflets during Freshers Week last
September. The credit card-sized leaflets advise the students on how to avoid
having their drink spiked, as well as recognising the signs of a spiked drink and
what to do if it should happen to someone they know. Posters have also been
distributed via Licensing Officers based in Northumbria's Area Command Units,
as well as through the Federation Brewery.

For more information contact PC Dean Thompson, Northumbria Police HQ, Crime
Reduction Section, Block 48, Ponteland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE20 0BL Tel: 01661 872555 Ext 68075 E-
mail: dean.thompson.605@northumbria.pnn.police.uk

Experimenting...with Drugs
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police, in partnership with extremely encouraging. The campaign has
local universities, have developed a drug seen improved communications between
awareness campaign targeted at students, the police and students, who are becoming
which uses high profile publicity material more aware of the risks involved in drug
to advertise the dangers involved in taking abuse to both their future career and
drugs. personal life.
In a bid to get new and returning
students to pay attention to important and For further information contact Will Harpur, Press
serious messages about drugs, a series of and Publicity Officer, West Midlands Police HQ,
promotional materials including beer mats, Lloyd House, Colmore Circus, Queensway,
bookmarks, posters and magazine adverts Birmingham B4 6NQ
have been distributed and displayed across Tel: 0121 626 5496 Ext: 2561
the region’s major universities and colleges. E-mail: w.harpur@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Over 150,000 beer mats have been
produced in 6 different styles, incorpo-
rating crime reduction messages, which
will be distributed to student unions and
various locations frequented by the
students. Posters have been displayed across
campuses and full-page adverts have been
publicised in 2 popular annual student
magazines used for reference throughout
the year. Bookmarks have also been made
available in the university libraries, union
buildings, academic departments and
bookshops.
The campaign was set up to coincide
with the start of the new academic year and
the feedback received so far has been

22 Drugs and Alcohol January 2004

 ‘Rat on a Rat’
Gloucestershire Police Crimestoppers

The latest Crimestoppers project ‘Rat on a

Rat’ was rolled out in Cheltenham and
Tewkesbury division of Gloucestershire
Constabulary last year.
Due to its success, the scheme
was launched countywide during
Crimestoppers Week in September, when
people were urged to contact the
Crimestoppers number (0800 555111) to
report crimes such as burglary, theft, street
crime and drug offences.
Posters highlighting the scheme were
displayed in shops, businesses and
community buildings across the area and
beer mats distributed to local pubs and
clubs. Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators
For more information contact Julia Richardson,
have been responsible for sending out
Crimestoppers Co-ordinator, Gloucestershire
leaflets and up to October last year,
Constabulary, Holland House, Lansdown Road,
Gloucestershire Crimestoppers had taken
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 6QH
over 850 actionable calls, resulting in 67
Tel: 01242 276253 Fax: 01242 221415
arrests.
E-mail: julia.richardson@gloucestershire.police.uk
Since the launch of the initiative,
Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Division has
seen a 20% increase in the numbers of calls
to the Crimestoppers number, up by 100%
on the same period for the previous year.

‘Dead Drunk’
National Youth Agency

The National Youth Agency is promoting a hard-hitting video entitled ‘Dead Drunk’, which
looks at the culture of alcohol from the perspective of a group of teenagers.
The film follows the story of a young boy called Jay and the impact that alcohol has had
on his life. Jay feels that his only escape route is to join the army, a dream shared by another
young boy on his estate, who craves acceptance from Jay’s gang. During a row with his
mother, Jay discovers a startling truth about his father and in a state of distress he spends all
night drinking, which leads to terrible consequences.
The video aims to show the devastating effects alcohol abuse can have on family life and
the community as a whole. It runs for 25 minutes and includes a CD Rom with supporting
information for teachers and youth leaders, including a guide to alcohol units, statistics and
suggested exercises.

Copies of the video, priced £76.37 including VAT and postage and packing are available from the
National Youth Agency, Publication Sales, 17 - 23, Albion Street, Leicester LE1 6GD
Tel: 0116 285 3709 Fax: 0116 285 3777 E-mail: sales@nya.org.uk

January 2004 Drugs and Alcohol 23

Fra u d Chip and PIN Credit Cards
Chip and Pin Programme Management Organisation (PMO)

For more details on the Chip
and PIN visit the website:
www.chipandpin.co.uk
G e n e ra l
Chip and PIN is a major development in the
fight against fraud. This new method,
which uses a 4-digit Personal Identification
Number (PIN) similar to that used at a cash
machine or ATM, replaces the need to sign
a paper receipt at the till when purchasing
goods.
The trial of the chip and PIN system
was tested over a 3-month period in
Northampton, as an initial step towards
national rollout. It involved re-issuing a
significant number of Northampton
cardholders with new chip and PIN cards,
as well as upgrading point-of-sale
terminals at a selection of retail outlets.
During the trial, consumers generally
responded well to the new cards, although
there were concerns for other shopper
surveillance whilst entering their PIN
number. The trial indicated that retailers,
and in particular large chain stores, will
have initial problems and should allow
enough time to test and implement new
point-of-sale terminals and staff training.
By January 2005, the PIN, rather than a
signature, will verify the majority of all
face-to-face plastic card transactions made
in the UK including:
• 850,000 retailer terminals in use.
• 122 million cards in circulation.
• 40,000 cash machines compatible.
The Chip and PIN Programme Management
Organisation (PMO) is a new organisation
established to manage the implementation
of the Chip and PIN programme across the
UK. The PMO is led by the Chip and PIN
Programme Steering Committee (PSC),
which is made up of equal representation
from the major banks and retailers in the
UK.

Community Justice Centre

Home Office

Liverpool is the first city in the country to have a new pilot Community Justice Centre.
The Community Justice Centre is a joint initiative between the Home Office, Department
for Constitutional Affairs and the Crown Prosecution Service. The centre will be closely linked
to the local community and will act as a hub for crime prevention information, advice and
guidance. It will also be the base from which activities such as community projects and
diversionary activities for young people will be run.
The key aims of the Community Justice Centre will be to:
• improve the co-ordination of work aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and the links
between criminal justice and other agencies, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness
of their work
• tailor punishments to reflect both the individuals and the local community's needs and
design rehabilitation schemes to reduce re-offending and engage the perpetrator with
their own community
• increase community participation and confidence in criminal justice
• provide more resolutions through reparation and restoration to cases that are relevant to
the damage done to the community as well as the individual.

For more information contact Harjit Athwal, Community Justice Centres Project Team, Home Office,
Criminal Procedures and Evidence Unit, Room 356, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT
Tel: 020 7273 2366 E-mail: harjit.athwal@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

24 Fraud/General January 2004

 Tilley Awards 2003
Home Office

Details of the Tilley Award Winners have been published for 2003. The awards were
established in 1999 by the Home Office Policing and Reducing Crime Unit (now the Crime
and Policing Group) to encourage and recognise good practice in implementing problem-
oriented policing (POP). Winners are invited to attend the Annual International
Problem-Oriented Policing Conference in San Diego, funded by the Home Office. This
provides the opportunity for them to present details of their project at the conference. An
additional award was introduced in 2003, recognising contributions made by Crime and
Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs).

Crime and Disorder Reduction

‘Tackling City Centre Assaults in Foyle District Command Unit (DCU)’
Winner: Julie McNerlin and Samantha Allen, Police Service of Northern Ireland
In 2001/2002 assault was the highest volume crime in Foyle DCU, with 42% of attacks
occurring in the city centre. A number of underlying causes were identified, including:
• assaults largely concentrated around pubs and clubs at closing time
• problems with crowd dispersal and lack of transport provision
• high proportion of assaults resulting in serious injury
• evidence of gang related assaults.

An Assault Reduction Strategy was set up to tackle the problem in September 2002 and
recommendations formulated to deal with problems formed the strategy basis. This included
a number of problem-solving initiatives implemented in conjunction with multi-agency
partnerships, together with targeted police operations involving high visibility policing. The
City Centre Initiative agreed to front the project, which broadened ownership of the problem For more information contact
and responses. As a result, city centre assaults fell by 43% over a 6-month period (compared Julie McNerlin or Samantha
to the previous year). This is equivalent to approximately 183 fewer assaults during the 6- Allen, Police Service of
months. The principles behind the project have been adopted as best practice within Foyle Northern Ireland
DCU and are regularly used in a variety of other problems. Tel: 028 7137 9710.

Organisational Support
‘Problem Solving Process Implementation Programme’
Winner: Neil Henson, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)
Growing organisational demands on the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) required the re-
launch of problem solving in 2001, to support the reduction of strain on the Service.
Consequently, training needs were identified for police and business partners in all 32
London Boroughs. To be able to meet their requirements, the following objectives were
identified:
• Design of an implementation programme overcoming barriers discovered whilst
conducting research.
• Design of a training programme incorporating additional skills enabling practitioners to
apply problem solving.
• Implementation of a monitoring system that captures best practice, working in the long-
term to reduce crime, the number of repeat calls and generally improving the quality of
life for the community.

In 2001, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Tim Godwin introduced the 'Operational Policing
Model' (OPM). The model demonstrates a lasting need for problem solving and consists of
six elements to be adopted across the 32 London Policing Boroughs:
• Investigation. • Forensics.
• Targeting. • Intelligence.
• Diversion. • Problem-solving.
Continues...

January 2004 General 25

 Tilley Awards 2003
Research findings revealed that lack of time, money and resources were the main barriers
Continued from
to effective problem solving. The Unit's groundwork resulted in a 2-day course, divided into
previous page.
4 half-day modules, introducing students to the Problem-Solving Process (PSP) and
associated skills. In 2002, over 80 problem-solving initiatives were started involving police
and business partners. A recent inspection of over 600 evaluation sheets showed a 97%
satisfaction rate, which is above the Problem-Solving Unit’s (PSU) student satisfaction target
of 90%.

For more information contact Neil Henson, Metropolitan Police Service Tel: 020 7321 9033.

Effective Partnerships
‘Get Home Safe’
Winner: Robert Murdie, on behalf of the Get Home Safe Partnership
The ‘Get Home Safe’ campaign was developed as a result of rising levels of alcohol-related
violence in South Belfast, Northern Ireland. Alcohol-related crime accounted for almost 20%
of the total crime in the area, up 40% over the previous year. Key issues included:
• an upsurge in South Belfast licensed premises from 274 venues
(January 2001) to 311 (January 2002)
• a rise in numbers of people socialising within the same area
• above increases not being matched by improved or additional transport.

By developing a partnership approach to tackling the problem, combined with strategic

For more information contact
Sgt. Robert Murdie, Police
Service of Northern Ireland
Tel: 02890 700568
policing and a focused marketing and public information campaign, the ‘Get Home Safe’
initiative prioritised action. Independent evaluation of the campaign showed that the overall
assault rate had reduced 19.2%, serious assaults by 33% with a 20% reduction in the number
of people with serious injuries seeking victim support. The marketing campaign created a
high level of awareness amongst the target age group, with 87% recall and 40% claiming that
the campaign had positively changed their behaviour.

British Community Safety Awards 2003

Winners
Crime Concern and Marks & Spencer

The Marks & Spencer British Community
Safety Awards are dedicated to rewarding
community members and groups who
work to reduce community crime and fear
of crime. The awards are organised jointly
by Marks & Spencer and Crime Concern
and are endorsed by the Home Office. The
top 5 winners for the 2003 awards have
recently been announced. 4 of the 5
winners each receive a trophy, together
with their choice of £1,500 worth of
Crime Concern training or £2,000 cash.
The overall winner, Essex’s Clockwise
Centre, receives an additional £1,500
worth of training or £1,000 cash and the
opportunity to represent the UK in the
European Crime Prevention Awards.

Tower Project (Blackpool Community

For more information contact
Det Insp Edward Thistlewaite,
Lancashire Constabulary,
Western Division HQ, Bonny
Street, Blackpool FY1 5RL
Tel: 01253 604245
Safety Partnership)
This project supports persistent offenders
in Blackpool’s prisons and communities,
helping to steer them away from a life of
crime. The project has been in operation in
Blackpool since 2002 and was set up in
partnership with the police, probation
service, Crown Prosecution Service and
NACRO. The programme offers offenders
immediate access to drug treatment,
support and accommodation, benefits and
employment. Between 2001 and 2002,
statistics showed:
• 17.7% fewer crimes overall.
• 44.8% fewer house burglarises.
• 33% fewer vehicle thefts.
• 20% fewer street robberies.

26 General January 2004

Knowle West Learning Through
Football Project (Avon & Somerset
Constabulary)
This project uses football to engage
disaffected young people in Bristol. With
35% of the local population under the age
of 15, the project addresses issues on the
Knowle and Filwood estates of South
Bristol, including high arrest rates, school
truancy and drug problems. Evening
sessions were organised where young
people learned football skills from 2 Bristol
City Football Club Coaches. They were also
The Streets Ahead Project (Hastings
and Rother Youth Development
Service)
This project tackles crime against visiting
foreign language students in Hastings and
was set-up as a pilot project in the summer
of 2000. The project was designed to
address tensions between visiting language
students and local young people, as well as
the growing perception of the town as an
unsafe and violent place to stay. By
employing youth workers from European
countries such as Germany, Sweden and
Finland, the project was able to create a
Tower Hamlets Summer University
(THSU)
This project focuses on reducing high
incidences of crime by young people
during the summer holidays in the London
Borough of Tower Hamlets. THSU is a
voluntary programme that works with a
diverse range of young people aged 14 - 25
to provide a safe and non-judgemental
learning atmosphere. Working with two
youth advisory groups, the project
promotes independent learning, racial
tolerance and good community relations.
The Clockwise Centre (Essex Trust for
Rehabilitation and Assistance)
Established in 1994, Essex Trust for
Rehabilitation and Assistance Clockwise
Centre is a day centre facility that provides
services for offenders and ex-offenders,
those at risk from offending and their
families. The focus is on addressing the
underlying causes of crime such as a lack of
education, unemployment, drug or alcohol
misuse and poor housing or homelessness.
Over the past 9 years, the centre has
January 2004
given the opportunity to attend the Bristol
City Study Support Centre, where they were
taught literacy, numeracy and IT skills
through the medium of football.
The results show reduced truancy rates
for the young people taking part in the
project. 90% of the 120 young people who
have remained on the programme have not
re-offended.
team that had the language skills to be able
to communicate with the young people in
their first language. Workshops were also
run in secondary schools and police
identified ‘hot spots’, which specifically
targeted young people who had either
offended or displayed behaviour likely to
compromise the safety of others.
In its first year, the project saw a
decrease in area crime, falling from 170
reported incidents in 2000 to 70 in 2002.
Its success is attributed to the youth-led
approach on programme development,
which includes the development of peer
mentors.
Approximately 10% of the borough’s
young people go through the university’s
programme and the results show:
• 8% reduction in youth crime.
• 17% reduction in juvenile nuisance.
• 25% reduction in drug offences.
successfully worked with over 300
individuals from the age group
predominately responsible for crime (males
aged between 18 - 30 and females between
23 -30), in one of Essex’s highest crime
areas. In 2001, the Clockwise Centre
received the Investors in People (IiP) Award
and the High Sheriff ’s award for best
volunteering organisation in 2003.
For more information contact
Det Sgt Nick Papuca, Avon and
Somerset Constabulary,
Broadbury Road Police Station,
Broadbury Road, Knowle West,
Bristol BS4 1JT
Tel: 0117 945 5603
For more information contact
Sue Grieg, Hastings Borough
Council, Hastings & Bexhill
Area Youth Service, 31
Cambridge Road, Hastings
TN34 1DJ Tel: 01424 439284
For more information contact
Sarah Hodgkin, Tower Hamlets
Summer University, Canon
Barnett School, Gunthorpe
Street, London E1 7RQ
Tel: 020 7247 7900
For more information contact
Sarah Tomlinson, Project
Co-ordinator, The Clockwise
Centre, 85 - 87, Pier Avenue,
Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
CO15 1QE Tel: 01255 423466
For more information about the
awards visit the website
www.crimeconcern.org.uk
/awards
General 27
 Crime reduction and Problem-oriented
Policing
Edited by Karen Bullock and Nick Tilley

This book, published by Willan Publishing, looks at one of the most significant new
approaches to policing and crime reduction in recent years. The publication is based on the
principle that the core of policing should be to deal effectively with underlying police-
relevant problems, rather than reacting to incidents as they occur.
In the UK, funding was provided for various projects adopting a problem-solving
approach in both policing and crime prevention and reduction partnerships. The book draws
upon the main findings of this initiative and provides an overview of the Government’s
Targeted Policing Initiative as a whole. It describes the effects of adopting a problem-solving
approach and sets out what was learned from efforts to address the specific problems
targeted in the initiatives that were evaluated.
This book may be of particular interest to students, researchers, policy-makers and
practitioners, or anyone with an interest in crime reduction strategies.

Copies of this book, published in September 2003 and priced £25.00 (hardback) can be obtained from
Willan Publishing, Culmcott House, Mill Street, Cullompton, Devon EX15 3AT
Tel: 01884 840337 Fax: 01884 840251
E-mail: info@willanpublishing.co.uk or visit their website: www.willanpublishing.co.uk

Policing Priority Areas - Update

Home Office

Since the introduction of the first 5 Police
Standards Unit’s (PSUs) Policing Priority
Areas (PPAs) in March last year (see article
in April 2002 Digest), the scheme has been
extended to cover another 9 areas, bringing
the national total to 14.
PPAs are focused initiatives, established
For more information visit in areas with high levels of crime and anti-
the Police Reform Website: social behaviour, together with a lack of
www.policereform. confidence in the community. They aim to
gov.uk28/psu/ reduce crime and promote community
policingpriorityareas.html cohesion and evaluation of the first 5 PPAs
has proved very positive, producing
guidance for future PPA and multi-agency
work in general.
Feedback from police forces and
partners has also been encouraging, partic-
ularly in identifying ways to ensure a more
joined-up approach to reducing crime. One
scheme on an estate in Stoke-on-Trent to
tackle prostitution and anti-social
behaviour has proved so successful that it
has won a 6-month extension and
additional funding to be able to continue.

New Grants Website

Home Office

A new funding website (www.governmentfunding.org.uk) has been set up for voluntary

and community organisations, which will allow them to access £182 million of Government
funding.
The website will provide organisations with the opportunity to obtain better
information and details of the grants available. Further developments of the portal are
planned for early in 2004, including a database of applicant organisation profiles, local
information, an on-line application facility and application processing tools for departments.

For more information visit the website www.governmentfunding.org.uk

28 General January 2004

 Mobile Advice Centre
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police and Highgate such as anti-social behaviour, begging,

Housing Team have joined forces to
organise a monthly mobile advice centre
for the local neighbourhood.
The aim of the centre is to offer
support and advice to residents on issues
that affect their community. It will also
provide an opportunity for tenants living in
the area to speak about nuisance problems
intimidation and drug issues. A Housing
Officer will also be on hand to give
information on housing-related matters.
The advice centre will be a regular
monthly feature in the area and the dates
and opening times will be advertised via
local community venues and shops.
For more information contact
PC Riccardo Gambino, West
Midlands Police, Birmingham
Central, C Sector, High Street,
Digbeth, West Midlands B5 6DT
Tel: 0845 113 5000

‘Raising Hope - Reducing Fear’ -

Middlesbrough’s approach to tackling
Crime and Disorder
Middlesbrough Council

Middlesbrough Council’s Community Protection Service is organising a 1-day conference to

be held on 30th January 2004, which will provide an insight in to their approach to tackling
crime and disorder.
The keynote speaker on the day will be the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon who
will explain the results from working in partnership with the police and others to reduce
crime in the area. This includes the creation of a team of 75 Street Wardens and an integrated
council service, who tackle crime and environmental issues, driven by a weekly joint
problem solving team comprising of senior councillors, the police and fire officers.
The event is aimed mainly at practitioners, who can learn from the experiences of others
involved in reducing crime and disorder.

For further information on the cost and to book a place, contact Sue Bell, Middlesbrough Council,
Middlesbrough Teaching & Learning Centre, Tranmere Avenue, Middlesbrough TS3 8PB
Tel: 01642 201816 E-mail: sue_bell@middlesbrough.gov.uk or visit their website: www.mtlc.co.uk

Illuminated Lux Sign to Promote Crime

Reduction
Gloucestershire Constabulary

Gloucestershire Constabulary have made use
of a large, illuminated sign positioned at
various locations within Gloucester to
promote crime reduction to members of the
public.
The screen is 8 foot square and includes
strong, flashing lights in each corner to
ensure people notice it. It is self-contained
on a trailer with a petrol generator and
messages can be changed remotely via a
laptop computer. The sign was initially used
at an out-of-town cinema complex with
particularly high levels of vehicle crime. It
was placed on the entrance road to the site
with the message ‘Warning - Thieves operate
January 2004
in this area - Remove valuables from display’.
As a result of using the sign, police figures
showed a significant decrease in vehicle
crime in the area.
The sign has since been located on main
routes into residential areas around the city For further information contact
to combat early evening burglaries, where PC Kevin Ireland, Crime
houses in darkness are being targeted. It Reduction/Architectural Liaison
provides advice on the use of timer switches Officer, Gloucester Police
as well as dusk to dawn lighting. Local press Station, Longsmith Street,
coverage has also ensured that crime Gloucester GL1 2JP
reduction messages are widely promoted and Tel: 01452 335324
together with a notable reduction in crime, E-mail: Kevin.Ireland@
the sign has received positive feedback from gloucestershire.police.uk
local residents and visitors to the area.
General 29
 Operation Scorpion
Bedfordshire Police

Operation Scorpion, Bedfordshire's Crime Reduction Strategy, was originally launched in

2000. To increase the awareness of the strategy to the people of Bedfordshire, the force
created the Operation Scorpion Website (www.operationscorpion.org.uk), which has since
been developed as a "brand name" for the area’s crime reduction initiatives and community
projects. The website’s logo is also widely recognised throughout the county.
The site has proved to be an extremely successful and popular communication tool
between Bedfordshire Police and the local community. As well as letting the public know
about policing and criminal activity across the county and offering useful crime reduction
advice, visitors are able to contact the force through the site's e-mail address. Last year alone,
over 200 e-mails were received, ranging from local intelligence regarding drugs to queries
on stolen credit cards and firearms licensing. Visitor numbers have averaged at approximately
12,000 per month.
The site has remained as a separate resource from the main Bedfordshire Police Website
as a result of feedback from its visitors, who have suggested that they appreciate the non-
police branding on the site, as it makes it less formal, more approachable and encourages
public ownership.
To aid navigation, the site has been broken down into colour-coded sections:
• "Looks Familiar" posts photos of named violent offenders, offenders caught on CCTV,
missing people and witness appeals.
• "Extra Extra" issues the latest crime-related press releases and divisional newsletters.
• "Don't Be A Victim" speaks for itself and provides a number of items of crime
reduction advice.
• "Scorpion 4 Kidz" focuses on youth issues, such as bullying.
• "The Score" looks at drug and alcohol issues, in particular what the law says.
• "What If..?" deals with frequently asked questions addressed to the police but
not necessarily police issues.
• "Making Contact" provides visitors with phone numbers and e-mail addresses of Beat
Managers, Crime Reduction and Schools Liaison Officers, as well as links to other useful
websites.
• "Notice Board" publishes articles on new legislation, which may affect the
general public.
• "Designing Out Crime" is dedicated to publishing reports by the Architectural Liaison
Officer and has recently aided international discussion on New Urbanism.

Development of the site is ongoing and work is underway to evaluate how the use of
web cameras and live CCTV can be linked to it, as well as the use of SMS text messaging.

For information on the Operation Scorpion Crime Reduction Strategy contact Insp Neill Waring,
Community Action Department, Bedfordshire Police HQ, Woburn Road, Kempston, Bedford MK43 9AX
Tel: 01234 842818 E-mail: neill.waring@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk

For more on the Operation Scorpion Website contact Lara Curtayne Tel: 01234 842819
E-mail: lara.curtayne@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk

30 General January 2004

 Best Practice in Crime Prevention
Conference
European Crime Prevention Network

This 2-day conference held in Rome in November, was organised by the European Union
Crime Prevention Network (EU CPN) and brought together best practice in crime prevention
from across Europe. It concentrated on:
• Reduction of Vehicle Theft.
• Reduction of Commercial Robbery.
• Social integration of minority ethnic young offenders.
For more information contact
Thirty one projects were presented at the conference, 2 of which were from the UK, Paul Hudspith, Home Office,
including a comprehensive and successful scheme aimed at tackling vehicle theft in the Crime Reduction Delivery Team,
Metro Centre shopping complex in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear and an innovative ‘3-way’ 1st Floor, Allington Towers,
mentoring scheme for young offenders from ethnic minority backgrounds in Leicester. This 19 Allington Street,
scheme brings together young offenders, professional staff and students and although a full London SW1E 5EB
evaluation will eventually be completed, early results are very encouraging. Tel: 020 7035 5237
Many of the projects put forward from other European countries will be of interest to E-mail:
practitioners and arrangements are currently underway to make them available via the Crime paul.hudspith@homeoffice.
Reduction Website. Details will be available in the near future. gsi.gov.uk

Hate Crime
Player Cards Scheme 2003/04
Burnley Borough Council

An innovative campaign to kick racism into
touch has been launched by Burnley
Football Club in partnership with the
Burnley Community Safety Partnership and
‘What Now? Services’, who form part of
the Lancashire County Council Youth and
Community Service.
The football club have produced a set
of 25 player cards for 2003/04, featuring
advice on community safety issues,
including tackling racism and anti-social
behaviour. The launch of the scheme
coincided with the anti-racism week in
October last year, when the first card was
released. Cards were distributed by the
club’s community team, who visited local
schools and organisations in order to
promote awareness of the problems of
racial abuse and anti-social behaviour. They
are available from various locations in the
area.
For more information contact Kerry Hulme,
Community Safety Partnership Development
Officer, Burnley Borough Council, Town Hall,
Burnley BB11 1JA Tel: 01282 425011
E-mail: k.hulme@burnley.gov.uk

“ The football club have produced a set of 25

player cards for 2003/04, featuring advice on
community safety issues, including tackling
racism and anti-social behaviour.
”
January 2004 General/Hate Crime 31
P ro p e r t y C r i m e N e i g h b o u r h o o d
Wa r d e n s
Neighbourhood Wardens Scheme
Safer Merthyr Tydfil

The Safer Merthyr Tydfil Neighbourhood
Warden Scheme commenced in January
2000 utilising an empty, local authority
ground floor flat as their main base. The
flat, which formed part of a block of flats,
was located in a residential area with 4
shops adjacent to a children's park. The area
also featured a walled front garden,
providing ideal cover for underage drinkers
and anti-social behaviour. Local residents
frequently complained to the wardens
about drunken youths congregating in the
area, leaving litter, smashing windows and
causing graffiti damage.
As a result, the wardens secured
funding from the Groundwork Trust and
the Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil
Development Fund in a bid to alleviate the
problem, while at the same time honouring
a local world champion boxer by erecting a
memorial as a tribute to him. The team
approached a community artist, who
suggested casting the boxer’s footprints in
bronze and incorporating them into new
paving stones. The wardens also contacted 2
schools to encourage the children to design
pictures to include in the individual prints,
which gave the young people a feeling of
ownership of the project and which would
potentially help to reduce the risks of
further graffiti and anti-social behaviour.
The garden was removed and a ramp
installed, together with railings and the
new paving stones featuring the children’s
designs.
Since the re-development, the area has
been totally transformed through
partnership working to the benefit of the
local residents and the problems of anti-
social behaviour have been removed.
For more information contact Roger Mitchell,
Project Manager, Community Safety Wardens
Advice Centre, No 2 Talbot Square, Penydarren,
Merthyr Tydfil CF47 9LP Tel: 01685 388100

Immobilise Campaign
West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police, in partnership with the mobile phone industry and backed by the
Home Office, has launched a new campaign in Leeds to tackle mobile phone crime.
The campaign, which has also been rolled out to Manchester, the West Midlands,
Merseyside and London, forms part of an ongoing programme by the industry, the police
and Government to clamp down on mobile phone theft. It includes the message "Stolen
Phones Don't Work Any More" and incorporates high profile advertising on buses and bus
shelters, billboards and railway stations. Mobile phone retailers are promoting stickers,
posters and leaflets within their stores, urging victims of this type of crime to report their
loss and stop stolen mobiles from being sold on.
The mobile phone industry has also launched an informative new website
(www.immobilise.com), together with a new phone line (Tel: 08701 123 123), which will
facilitate the reporting of lost and stolen handsets.

For further information about the scheme, visit the industry's website: www.immobilise.com
or E-mail: info@immobilise.com

32 Neighbourhood Wardens/Property Crime January 2004

 ‘Out of Your hands?’ CD-Rom
Home Office

The Government has launched a new hi-tech tool to help young people steer clear of mobile
phone theft.
The CD-Rom entitled "Out of Your Hands?" is aimed at 11 to 14 year-olds and provides For more information contact
an interactive resource where children can learn about the problems associated with mobile Peter Cordingley, Home Office,
phone theft. It will also allow them to gain tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of this Street Crime Action Team,
type of crime. The package highlights the consequences of becoming involved in mobile Room 478,
phone crime and features a national competition, where students are asked to design a 50 Queen Anne's Gate,
mobile phone for the future, which has built-in safety features. This will enable the young London SW1H 9AT
people to think about how good design can help to reduce crime. Tel: 020 7273 4507
The CD-Rom is available to every school in the country and is linked to the citizenship E-mail: peter.cordingley@
element of the National Curriculum. homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

‘Take Stock of Your Lock’

City of London Police

The City of London Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnership (CDRP) have been
involved in an ongoing initiative to raise
awareness of pedal cycle security and help
to reduce the theft of cycles in the City of
London.
The campaign, ‘Take Stock of Your
Lock’, began in February last year, with the
introduction of cycle security road shows
providing security advice and examples of
various locking devices. The CDRP went on
to produce leaflets, which were distributed
Sexual Offences Act
Home Office
in the area by the cycle patrol and
community beat teams. These featured a
rusty padlock providing details of websites
and basic advice on how to avoid becoming
a victim of cycle theft.
For more information contact PC Ray Sykes, City
of London CDRP, Suite 48, London Fruit and
Wool Exchange, Brushfield Street, London E1
6EX Tel: 020 7456 9814 E-mail:
ray.sykes@corpoflondon.gov.uk
Offences
Sexual

The Sexual Offences Act, which has now
received Royal Assent, will be implemented
in May this year.
The Act represents a major review of
the law on sexual offences. One of the most
important changes proposed is the
overhaul of the law on consent. The Act
introduces a test of reasonableness into the
law on consent and a list of circumstances
in which various presumptions will be
made as to the complainant's consent and
the defendant's reasonable belief in
consent. This will provide juries with a very
clear framework within which to make fair
and just decisions.
The Act also proposes a package of
measures to give children the greatest
possible protection under the law from
sexual abuse. It makes clear that sexual
activity with a child under the age of 13 is
never acceptable. It also proposes a new
offence of 'meeting a child following
sexual grooming etc', which will catch
adults who undertake a course of conduct
with a child and then arrange to meet that
child with the aim of abusing them, either
at that meeting or on a subsequent
occasion. The Act brings greater coherence
and more proportionate penalties to the
criminal law surrounding the abuse of For more information contact
children through prostitution and Helen Musgrove, Home Office,
pornography and to trafficking offences, Criminal Law Policy Unit, Room
bringing greater protection to children and 314, 50 Queen Anne's Gate,
adults alike. London SW1H 9AT
E-mail: helen.musgrove
@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

January 2004 Property Crime/Sexual Offences 33

Tow n / S h o p p i n g C e n t re C r i m e Hats off to crime
Kent Police

Kent Police, in association with the Folkestone Area Partnership Against Crime (FAPAC) have
launched a new initiative, which aims to tackle retail crime in the area.
Businesses in and around Folkestone are displaying specially designed posters featuring
Kent Police and FAPAC logos, which ask people to remove their hats and hoods before
entering the premises. The idea is to deter youths from wearing baseball caps and
'hoodies' in shops, which can be used to conceal their identity and make it difficult
when viewing CCTV.
The initiative was launched after a youth attempted to change a large
amount of foreign currency in a local travel agent after several overseas
students had been robbed. On viewing the CCTV footage, police officers were
unable to identify the youth because they had been wearing a hood.
The poster has been welcomed by many of the town's shops and businesses
and copies are also displayed in the local Social Security office.

For more information contact PC John Weller, Kent County Constabulary, Strategic Crime
Reduction Unit, Police Station, Bouverie House, Bouverie Road West, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2RW
Tel: 01303 289356 Fax: 01303 289049 E-mail: scru.hz@kent.pnn.police.uk

Selling Security: The private policing of

public space
Edited by Alison Wakefield

Private security personnel play a large part
in public social life. Private security officers
now routinely patrol shopping centres,
leisure parks and transport terminals,
which rely commercially on safe and
reliable access by customers, service
providers and the public.
The information contained within this
publication was drawn from a unique study
of private security personnel operating
within 3 publicly accessible and typical
locations, including a shopping mall, retail
and leisure complex and cultural centre.
The research included questions such as:
• How do centres respond to public
needs for comfort and security in their
design, management and security
strategies?
• What functions are security officers
expected to perform?
• What is the nature and quality of the
relationship between private security
and the police?
The aim of the book is to offer a
framework to clarify the role of private
security in policing and to explore the
implications of that role with respect to
social policy. The book provides a detailed
account of trends in urban planning, public
policy and the commercial world, which
have promoted the expansion of private
security. Changes in retail and leisure
patterns leading to increasing numbers of
large, multi-purpose developments are
considered. Also discussed is the imple-
mentation of town centre planning
strategies to create more attractive and
secure high street retail and leisure facilities
and the extension of CCTV and security
patrols as tools for managing social
settings.
The research considers the challenges
posed by developments to conventional law
enforcement agencies, most notably the
police, and the need for Governments to
develop new strategies that include the
efforts of alternative policing agencies.
Copies of this book, published in October 2003
and priced £30.00 (hardback) can be obtained
from Willan Publishing, Culmcott House, Mill
Street, Cullompton, Devon EX15 3AT
Tel: 01884 840337 Fax: 01884 840251
E-mail: info@willanpublishing.co.uk or visit their
website: www.willanpublishing.co.uk

34 Town/Shopping Centre Crime January 2004

 Ve h i c l e C r i m e
Football fans reminded to keep
vehicles secure
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police, in partnership with • Consider fitting a vehicle-tracking

Aston Villa and Birmingham City Football
Clubs have launched a campaign to
promote car crime prevention to local
football supporters.
The football fans are being reminded
to park their vehicles securely and remove
all valuables when they attend match days.
Additional advice, which is highlighted in
the match day programmes includes:
• Activate steering locks.
• Have the car registration number
etched on every window of the vehicle.
• Fit an alarm or engine immobiliser.
• Postcode the radio cassette or
CD player.
device.
• Don’t leave keys in the ignition.
• Don’t leave driving documents in
the car.
Police patrols will also be increased on
the roads and car parks surrounding the
football grounds in a bid to reduce
incidents of car crime.
For more information contact PC Keith Doyle,
Crime Reduction/Design Adviser,
West Midlands Police, Queens Road, Aston,
Birmingham B6 7ND
Tel: 0121 322 6248 Fax: 0121 322 6161
E-mail: k.doyle@west-midlands.police.uk

Visual Information Sign

Police Service of Northern Ireland

This initiative was set up with the aim of
warning motorists, particularly foreign
speaking tourists, of the dangers of leaving
valuables on view in an unattended vehicle.
The signs are advertised in tourist area
car parks and have been designed in the
form of a traditional red triangle, featuring
the silhouette of a camera, handbag and
wallet inside a car. The sign is metal and
permanent and clearly and simply conveys
the message of keeping valuables safe to all
nationalities.
For more information contact PC Richard Corish,
Crime Prevention Officer, Police Service of
Northern Ireland (PSNI), 2 Hope Street, Larne,
County Antrim BT40 1UR
Tel: 028 2827 2266 Fax: 028 2827 1068

National Vehicle Crime Guidelines and

Tactical Options
Home Office and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)

The Home Office Police Standards Unit (PSU) and Association of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) have recently published the National Vehicle Crime Guidelines and Tactical Options.
The aim of the report is to offer guidance, based on nationally identified good practice
in vehicle crime detection and reduction. It is intended to assist those in command positions For further information contact
with responsibility for vehicle crime by providing tactical options, grouped theme by theme, Chief Inspector Nick Parker,
highlighting those options that have been evaluated or recommended by practitioners. Home Office, Police Standards
The document has been distributed in hard copy and CD Rom to all Chief Officers and Unit, 50 Queen Anne’s Gate,
Basic Command Units (BCUs) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will also be of London SW1H 9AT
interest to those charged with responsibility for converting the tasking actions into results Tel: 020 7273 2839
and should be made available to a wide range of police resources. The CD Rom contains over Fax: 020 7273 2503
2,200 files relating to good practice, all hyper-linked from the main document, therefore E-mail: Nicholas.parker3
making research quick and easy. @homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

January 2004 Vehicle Crime 35

Vi o l e n t C r i m e a n d S t re e t C r i m e Gun Crime - Latest Trends
Home Office Summary Information

The detailed annual statistics on firearm offences in England and Wales will be published in
January 2004. However, due to the increasing public interest around the issue of gun crime,
the Home Office has made available provisional, summary information. Provisional data will
also now be available early in future years.
The total number of firearm offences in England and Wales in 2002-03 (excluding those
involving air weapons) was around 10,250, 3% higher than in 2001-02. The increase in the
preceding year, reported in January 2002 was 35%.
In most parts of England and Wales, the incidence of firearm offences is very low, and
the chances of becoming a victim of a shooting are extremely rare. The risk of a fatal
shooting in England and Wales is still one of the lowest in the world.

For more information visit the Home Office Website:

www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/guncrime.pdf

Stay Safe in Southwark

Metropolitan Police

As part of Operation Safer Streets, For further information contact DCI Jerry
Southwark Police have been involved in an Sheppard, Metropolitan Police, Walworth Police
extensive crime prevention campaign, Station, 12 - 28 Manor Place, London SE17 3RL
aimed at groups in the area identified as Tel: 020 7232 6107 Fax: 020 7232 6190
being most vulnerable to street robbery. E-mail: sheppardjerry@hotmail.com
The ‘Stay Safe in Southwark’ campaign
was launched in December and involved
the distribution of 20,000 specially
designed ‘Stay Safe’ leaflets and
10,000 ‘Stay Safe’ packs
containing crime prevention
advice on personal safety while
out and about, together with a
mobile phone marking kit. A
poster with the text message
‘THNK B 4 U USE IT OR U
CLD LOSE IT’ was also
produced and advertised on
local buses, at main line
stations and on London
transport sites. This was
primarily aimed at
students and young
people, identified as
particularly vulnerable
to becoming a victim
of street crime.

36 Violent Crime and Street Crime January 2004

 Work-Related Violence - Lone Worker
Case Studies
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has
launched a series of real life studies offering
practical ways to reduce the threat of violence
to lone and mobile workers. The case studies
form part of the Health and Safety
Commission’s (HSC) 3-year programme to
reduce the incidence of violent attacks on
workers in this country.
The 19 case studies selected for this
guidance cover the following sectors:
• retail sales
• health and care workers
• security and enforcement
• public transport
• financial services
• other service providers, including
the self-employed.
Work-related violence can range from
physical assaults to verbal abuse and
threatening behaviour. The most common key
risks identified in becoming a victim of
workplace violence include:
• Alcohol and drug use by clients and
members of the public with whom the
lone worker comes into contact.
• Working in certain geographical
locations known to have a higher risk
of violence.
• Working late at night or early morning
carried an increased risk of violence
because there were generally fewer
people around or they were under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
• The nature of the job - some lone
workers hold positions of power or
authority over customers or clients,
which can cause resentment and
aggressiveness.
“ ...practical and cost effective ways of tackling
violence, often consisting of the simplest
measures, which prove the most effective.
January 2004
• Clients or customers behaviour, which
can be highly emotional or
unpredictable.
• Other people or situations encountered
whilst doing a job, including members
of the public, youths and animals.
• Travelling and visiting homes whilst
carrying money or equipment.
The studies identified various risk
prevention measures to reduce violent
situations, including using mobile phones,
carrying personal panic alarms, office
systems to track staff movements and
doubling up with colleagues. They also
indicate many other practical and cost
effective ways of tackling violence, often
consisting of the simplest measures, which
prove the most effective. The studies build on
existing guidance published by the HSE
entitled ‘Work-related violence: managing
the risk in smaller businesses’.
For further information and copies of the case
studies, published in October 2003 contact the
Business Development Unit, Health and Safety
Laboratory, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ
Tel: 0114 289 2920 Fax: 0114 289 2830
E-mail: hslinfo@hsl.gov.uk
Alternatively, the studies can be viewed and
downloaded via the HSE Website
www.hse.gov.uk/violence
”
Violent Crime and Street Crime 37
Yo u t h C r i m e Safe and Sound in Teesside
Safer Middlesbrough Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

Students at the University of Teesside are
benefiting from an initiative, which equips
them with the knowledge and resources to
make them feel safe during their time at
university.
The Safe and Sound in Teesside
campaign, organised by the Safer
Middlesbrough Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnership, focuses on a
number of issues including house burglary,
personal safety, vehicle crime and anti-
social behaviour. Information is provided
for students in the form of a monthly
update and details on the latest crime
trends are posted on notice boards
throughout the campus. Fortnightly
drop-in sessions are held in the University
Students Union and they can also benefit
from free home security checks, provided
by their local Crime Prevention Officer.
For more information contact Jemma Taylor,
Marketing and Media Co-ordinator, Safer
Middlesbrough Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership, 2 River Court, Brighouse Road,
Riverside Business Park,
Middlesbrough TS2 1RT Tel: 01642 354019
E-mail: jemma_taylor@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Making Internet Chat Rooms Safer

Wiltshire Constabulary

Wiltshire Constabulary and Wiltshire County Council have been working in partnership to
help young people to use the Internet safely, as well as advising parents on how to protect
their children from getting into potentially dangerous situations.
A survey was carried out involving 2,300 young people aged 11 - 18, who were asked to
complete a questionnaire on how they used the Internet. The results showed that:
• 80% of young people use the net with the majority accessing it from home or school.
• 7% had agreed to meet up with someone online via a chat room, without checking with
their parents first.
• 11% had been made to feel uncomfortable by ‘chats’ they’d had with someone online.
• 79% of young people went online at least once or twice a week for around 1 to 2 hours.
• 6% said that once they were logged on, they were online for over 3 hours.

This tended to indicate a link between the number of hours online and the likelihood of
the young person arranging to meet someone without telling their parents. Consequently the
police and local council produced advice packs, which were distributed at awareness raising
talks in local schools and at youth groups. They also put together a 6-point plan, including
the following information:
• Don’t give out personal details, photographs or any other information that could be used
to identify you, such as information about your family, where you live or the school
you attend.
• Don’t take other people at face value - they may not be what they seem.
• Never arrange to meet someone you’ve only ever previously met on the Internet without
first telling your parents and getting their permission. Take a responsible adult with you
and meet in a public place.
• Always stay in the public areas of a chat room, where there are other people, or moderate
chat rooms that are supervised.
• Don’t open attachments or download files unless you know and trust the person who
has sent them.
• Never respond directly to anything you find disturbing - save or print it, log off and tell
an adult.

For more information contact Jane Brambley, Force Consultation Officer, Wiltshire Constabulary,
Police HQ, London Road, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 2DN Tel: 01380 722341 Ext: 2297

38 Youth Crime January 2004

 Safe Haven
Kent County Constabulary

Children from local primary schools have been helping the police get a safe shopping
message across to other young people in the area.
In a bid to encourage young people to think about crime prevention and find out more
about the police, they were invited to design an A4 poster showing other children that there
is a safe place to go should they get lost whilst out and about or if they feel that they are
being bullied, or are approached by strangers. The police and the local council judged over
60 entries and 2 winners were chosen together with 2 runners-up who each received prizes.
The winning posters are displayed in the shop windows of members of the Folkestone
Area Partnership Against Crime (FAPAC). Each FAPAC store has a Shopwatch radio with
communication links to CCTV and the police.

Fore more information contact PC John Weller, Kent County Constabulary,

Strategic Crime Reduction Unit, Police Station, Bouverie House,
Bouverie Road West, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2RW
Tel: 01303 289356 Fax: 01303 289049 E-mail: scru.hz@kent.pnn.police.uk

Youth Crime Prevention Panels

Derbyshire Constabulary

Derbyshire Constabulary has recently To register your Youth Panel, please

re-launched the Erewash Youth Crime
Prevention Panel and is interested in
collating details of other Youth Panels
running across the country.
The aim is to enable panel members to
exchange ideas and projects, as well as
being able to obtain an up-to-date list of
other registered panels currently in
operation.
e-mail your details, including the name of
your panel, address, telephone, e-mail and
website if applicable, to:
crn.police@btopenworld.com
For more information contact Mark Phillips,
Crime Prevention Officer/Architectural Liaison
Officer, Long Eaton Police Station,
Derbyshire Constabulary, Midland Street,
Long Eaton, NG10 1NY Tel: 0115 9072027

Survival Training for Blaenau Gwent Pupils

Safer Blaenau Gwent

Primary school pupils from Blaenau Gwent County Borough have received lessons in life
from the Police, Ambulance and Fire Service with the introduction of the county’s first ever
‘Crucial Crew’ event.
Over 1,200 pupils aged 10 - 11 took part in a range of interactive workshops,
including what to do in the event of a house fire and how to react should they witness a
crime. The children were given up to 15 minutes on each of the workshops, which were
crewed by members of the emergency services and other organisations.
The aim of the day was to give the pupils an understanding and awareness of the dangers
they might face in later life and how to deal with various emergency situations as well as
promoting good citizenship. Advice on issues such as drug and alcohol abuse were also
discussed and the lessons learned were later reinforced through follow-up work in the
classroom.

For more information contact Stephen Carr, Community Safety Officer, Blaenau Gwent County Borough
Council, Civic Centre, Ebbw Vale NP23 6XB
Tel: 01495 355683 Fax: 01495 301255 E-mail: community.safety@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

January 2004 Youth Crime 39

 ‘Paintbrush Initiative’
Richmond Housing Partnership

For more information contact
Brian Burton, Estate Services
Manager, Richmond Housing
Partnership, 1st Floor, Premier
House, 52 London Road,
Twickenham TW1 3RS
The ‘Paintbrush Initiative’ provides young people in the area with the opportunity to carry
out work to improve their environment, therefore reducing boredom and anti-social
behaviour that this often leads to.
Young people in the London Borough of Richmond have been extremely enthusiastic
about the introduction of the scheme, which as well as helping to reduce anti-social
behaviour, provides employment opportunities and cleans up the local housing estates. The
scheme gives youngsters aged 13 - 18 the chance to earn high-street vouchers by spending
their Saturdays working with the partnership’s caretakers. Full training is given, together
with the equipment required to carry out a variety of tasks such as painting communal areas,
collecting rubbish, planting flowerbeds and cleaning and removing graffiti. The chance to
gain full-time employment is offered to those who show particular enthusiasm, which has
proved to be a successful aspect of the scheme, with 2 young people going on to become
Assistant Caretakers.
As many volunteers are taken on as possible. They are separated in to groups of no more
than 7, each with their own tasks and a supervisor who offers support and advice when they
need it. To ensure good behaviour on the scheme, participants and their parents, must sign a
community contract stating that they are prepared to abide by the rules of the scheme.

Youth Insight - Focus on crime

Norwich Union and Crime Concern

For further information contact
Chris Dyer, Programme
Manager, Crime Concern,
Beaver House,
147 - 150 Victoria Road,
Swindon SN1 3UY
Tel: 07768 025398
E-mail:
chris.dyer@birmingham.gov.uk
or Jill Willis,
Market Development Manager,
Norwich Union,
Tel: 01603 682846
Fax: 01603 682875
E-mail:
jillw@norwich-union.co.uk.
Copies of the report can be
viewed and downloaded via
the Crime Concern Website:
www.crimeconcern.org.uk
/pubs/youthinsight
reportfinal.pdf
This report has been produced as a result of
a partnership between Norwich Union and
Crime Concern.
The report focuses on how young
people feel about the rise in crime in
society today. It describes their thoughts,
fears and experiences of crime, whether
they have been a victim themselves or
know someone who has. Over 600 young
people aged between 13 and 19 from
differing social backgrounds were
consulted. More than half felt that crime
does pay, despite 4 in 5 of them being
worried about becoming victims of crime
themselves. Many felt that the benefits of
crime outweigh the possible consequences,
but wanted to see the police doing more to
tackle crime.
The report also reveals:
• While it’s commonplace to hear older
generations bemoaning the growing
rise in crime, 85% of teenagers
also believe that crime is getting worse.
• Peer pressure is seen as the most
common reason for young people
turning to crime (41%),
followed closely by boredom (35%).
• Young people believe the police should
be most active in reducing crime in
their area (37%) and a quarter
believed that they themselves play a key
role in reducing crime.
• Crime is felt to be a lifestyle choice for
one in five young people from socially
deprived areas and 94% of these
teens have been victims or know
victims of crime.
• When asked whom they most
respected, the majority of young
people (64%) named their
parents. A quarter also considered their
parents to be their role models.
The partnership has been responsible
for launching the Norwich Union
Neighbourhood Apprenticeship Scheme,
which empowers individuals to tackle
crime in their area by training local people
to become neighbourhood apprentices in
their own communities. A key element of
their work involves engaging young people
and working with them to combat some of
the pressures and frustrations that can lead
to criminal activity.

40 Youth Crime January 2004

 Operation Hawk - Helping Students
Stay Safe
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police have recently
launched an operation under the banner of
their successful street crime initiative
'Operation Hawk' to help keep students safe
and aware of potential crimes against them.
The force's "Wise Up and You'll be
Sorted" leaflets have been re-designed in
partnership with the students themselves
and now feature up-to-date advice on
personal safety, property security and
accommodation issues. Thousands of key
fob bottle openers and plastic carrier bags
Student Safety File
West Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police have been involved in
the design of a competition for students
that provides help and advice via the
Internet on staying safe. The web campaign
ran between September and November
2003 and covered the traditional Freshers
Week period, when new students joined
the university for the first time.
Students carrying out their work
experience with the West Yorkshire Police
Media Unit were consulted on the design
of the website and the result was the intro-
duction of a special section entitled the
‘Student Safety Files’. The site included
bullet points on various safety measures,
together with a round up of local police
initiatives and was advertised via a hard-
hitting poster and links on the
university/college intranet system. In order
to gather feedback to help evaluate the
project, the site included details of a free
prize draw with the chance to win a digital
camera and cinema tickets as runner up
prizes.
Students were able to take part in the
prize draw via e-mail and in total the site
recorded over 650 entries, with many
including constructive comments and
January 2004
featuring crime prevention advice have also
been distributed to enforce the safety
message.
For more information contact
PC Stuart Pizzey MBE, Crime
Reduction Adviser, Greater
Manchester Police, Bootle
Street Police Station, Bootle
Street, Manchester M2 5GU
Tel: 0161 856 3046
positive feedback. The majority of visitors
to the site said they welcomed the on-line
help, particularly the fact the information
was compact and concise. Most said
visiting the section was a positive and
useful experience and that they would
adopt some of the safety hints. Any points
raised by the students, which required a
personal response, were followed up by the
Crime Prevention Unit.
While taking part in the contest,
students were asked for their permission to
be included on an occasional "student
safety" e-mail list with the aim of sending
out a regular quarterly update on topical
safety issues.
For further information contact Patrick Brooke,
Web Communications Manager, Media and PR,
West Yorkshire Police Headquarters, PO Box 9,
Wakefield WF1 3QP Tel: 01924 292163
E-mail: PB10@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk
or visit the website:
www.westyorkshire.police.uk/student%
20safety/studentfile.htm
Youth Crime 41
 ‘Think Safe Keep Safe’
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

‘Think Safe Keep Safe’ is a personal safety
video and DVD produced by Devon and
Cornwall Constabulary aimed at and
featuring young people aged 6 - 10 years of
age.
The video has been designed to help
children to be more aware of their
surroundings and encourage them to
consider their safety in a number of
everyday situations, including walking to
and from school, dealing with people they
don’t know, answering the door safely at
home and playing out with friends. Each of
these scenarios is covered in the video,
together with advice and information on
how to stay safe.
The video aims to prompt questions
and discussion amongst the young people
and to get them to share their ideas and
concerns with their friends, families and
teachers.
For more information and copies of the video,
which runs for 12 minutes or DVD both priced
£19.50 including p & p, contact PC Kerry Taylor or
PC Hilary Steer, Devon and Cornwall
Constabulary, Youth Affairs, Charles Cross Police
Station, Hampton Street, Plymouth PL4 8HG
Tel: 01752 720585 or Tel: 01752 720579
Fax: 01752 720575

Re-launch of the Student Crime Awareness

Publicity Campaign
Home Office

Representatives from universities, the police and student unions in Greater Manchester
attended the re-launch of the student crime awareness campaign at Manchester University on
7th November 2003. The launch was attended by Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears and
TV personality David Dickinson, whose programme "Bargain Hunt" provided the theme for
the campaign.
The campaign, which features a new viral game called "Bargain Boost" and a new-look
good2bsecure Website (www.good2bsecure.gov.uk), has been re-designed to offer more
practical, targeted advice to students on protecting themselves and their property. The game
encourages players to compete against each other to win a cash prize as well as dinner with
David.
The campaign ran during November and December and saw a month of activity across
campuses in 11 of the biggest university cities across the country. Awareness raising in the
form of advertising on posters, beer mats and door hangers was followed by a week of
targeted activity to change behaviour. Crime prevention packs,
including timer switches, marker pens and checklists, were
distributed to halls of residence and student houses. All communi-
cation directed students back to the good2bsecure website for
further security information.
The campaign was designed to support the work already well
established in many universities to tackle student victimisation.
Examples of successful student crime reduction initiatives can be
found on the new Student Victimisation Mini-site on the Crime
Reduction Website: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/minisites.

For further information contact Katie Weeks, Home Office, Crime Reduction
Delivery Team, 1st Floor, Allington Towers, 19 Allington Street,
London SW1E 5EB
Tel: 020 7035 5258 Fax: 020 7035 5280
E-mail: katie.weeks@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

42 Youth Crime January 2004

 Anti-Social Behaviour Drama
Merseyside Police

This initiative, set up by Merseyside Police in partnership with the Local Education Authority,
aims to target street crime offences and anti-social behaviour committed by young people, as
well as further developing and improving links with primary schools in the St Helen’s area.
The initiative involves writing, producing and delivering a play, which is then followed
up by a series of workshops with the actors themselves and the police. The aim of the play is
to educate year 6 children on the consequences of becoming involved in anti-social
behaviour and the impact this has on their community. The play communicates anti-social
behaviour messages and is delivered by local performers, who then hold discussion groups
with the children about the issues raised.
It is hoped that the initiative will provide young people with an increased awareness of
court or eviction action that can be taken as a result of becoming involved in anti-social
behaviour, as well as improving their attitude on citizenship and the positive ways in which
they can contribute to their community.

For further information contact Constable Michelle Harrison, Merseyside Police, St Helen’s Police
Station, College Street, St Helen’s, Merseyside WA10 1TG Tel: 0151 777 6883

‘Think About It’ Youth Crime Video

Fife Police

Fife Police have produced a video in
partnership with local high schools that
aims to show young people the conse-
quences of becoming involved in
anti-social behaviour and alcohol and drug
abuse.
The video was put together as a result
of vandalism, alcohol-related violence and
anti-social behaviour caused by youths in
the area, which was increasing the fear of
crime for local residents and having a
detrimental affect on the community as a
whole. 18 young people were involved in
writing and filming the video, which
shows the various criminal activities that
young people can often become involved in
and highlights the consequences and effects
this can have on them in later life.
Since the launch of the video, relation-
ships between the young people and the
police have improved and nuisance calls
have been dramatically reduced. Although
the video currently only relates to Scottish
law, plans are underway to adapt it so that it
is also applicable to English law.
For further information and copies of the video
priced £11.00 including postage and packing
contact PC Mark Maylin, Fife Police, Dalgety Bay
Police Station, Regent’s Way,
Dalgety Bay KY11 9UY
Tel: 01383 318900 Fax: 01383 822004
E-mail: mark.maylin@fife.pnn.police.uk

January 2004 Digest Items 43

Index Index

A S
alcohol ........................9, 11, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, Secured by Design .........................................19
....................................................30, 37, 39, 43 Security ........4, 10, 13, 17, 33, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42
anti-social behaviour ..................1, 5, 11, 12, 13, Sexual Offences .............................................33
..............14, 15, 16, 24, 28, 29, 31, 32, 38, 40, 43 Students .....................17, 22, 26, 27, 28, 31, 33,
.....................................................36, 38, 41, 42
B
Burglary .........................................5, 17, 23, 38 V
Business Crime ..........................................2, 18 Vehicle Crime .....................................29, 35, 38
campaign ........................................................3 Violence ..............................5, 19, 20, 26, 37, 43
community .........................1, 4, 5, 8, 14, 15, 17,
....................................................23, 39, 40, 43 W
Website................................................4, 10, 13,
C .............18, 21, 24, 27, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42
Community Safety ...........................................1
Credit Cards .........................................2, 24, 30 Y
Youth Crime.................27, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
D
damage .............................................13, 24, 32
Distraction Burglary ........................................5
Domestic Violence ...............................5, 19, 20
Drugs .......................................11, 15, 21, 30, 37
Drugs & Alcohol ............................................19

F
fear of crime ....................................................1

G
Grants ...........................................................28

H
Hate Crime ....................................................31

I
Internet ..............................................12, 38, 41

M
mobile phone ..............................20, 32, 33, 36

P
Problem-oriented Policing .......................25, 28
public transport ..............................9, 13, 15, 37

44 Index January 2004