The main function of the Community Safety Team is to protect people from criminal and anti social behaviour. We do this by working in partnership by means of a number of community based measures.
| The Community Safety Team are part of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) which is a multi agency partnership striving to reduce crime and the fear of crime in Gloucester. Following the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, CDRPs were set up across the country. The statutory members are the Local Authorities (Gloucester City Council and Gloucestershire County Council), the Police, the Police Authority, the Fire Authority and the Primary Care Trust. However, the non statutory members include the Probation Service, Gloucestershire Drug and Alcohol Action Team, Neighbourhood Watch Association, the Crime Prevention Panel, the University of Gloucestershire, local schools, businesses, voluntary and community groups and every resident in the city - we all have a responsibility to try to prevent and reduce crime. |
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In January 2007, Gloucester CDRP was selected to participate in the Home Office "Changing Lives Making Communities Safer" Initiative. The campaign aims to communicate to local communities the work being done to tackle crime, drugs, anti - social behaviour and alcohol misuse in their areas and the impact it is having. As part of the campaign we will be organising specific crime reduction awareness events throughout the year and taking part in interviews on Gloucester FM Radio.
On Thursday August 30th we are holding a "Burglary Challenge" where reporters are to be given the opportunity to spot potential break-in points in a house in Gloucester to highlight summer insecurity pitfalls. The house will be set up with plenty of visual clues in a bid to highlight easy break in spots and so hopefully encourage householders to avoid such pitfalls. We have also produced a display in the City Centre library, Brunswick Road, Gloucester to promote home security.
We are also working with residents and services in the Moreland Ward of Gloucester to increase community involvement in influencing service provision and crime prevention.
On Saturday May 19th we held a Moreland on the Map Community Fun Day at Calton Junior School which was great fun and attended by in excess of 500 people. The event was opened by the Mayor of Gloucester Councillor Sue Blakeley, and there were many attractions and information stands from local organisations and public agencies including the CDRP information stand, Crime Prevention Panel security postcoding bicycles and mobile phones, the Police Safer Communities Team with a balloon modeller and magician, Crimestoppers, a Fire Engine, Road Safety and Motorbike Safety, the City Council Recycling and Composting teams, animals from St James City Farm and Robinswood Hill Farm, Kidzclub, face painting, fun games and competitions, biscuit and cake decorating, an inflatable obstacle course, the mobile climbing wall and a children's teacup fairground ride. The local Police Safer Communities Team challenged the Star 66 youth club to a five a side football match - and lost 5-7 on penalties - despite a terrific effort and enthusiasm on both sides.
  
We are also holding a "Grow the tallest sunflower in Moreland" competition launched at the event. Members of the CDRP team visited the local primary schools in advance to encourage everyone to grow sunflowers. The seed packets all carried crime prevention information as to how you should secure your shed to protect the contents. If you are taking part in this competition, don't forget to let us know before 28th September 2007 how tall your sunflower is. If your sunflower plants have been eaten by slugs, you can contact Angela Ingram on 01452 396284 or Pat Dabbs on 01452 396984 to obtain a replacement packet of seeds.
As part of the Changing Lives Making Communities Safer Inititiative, in October there will be a week of action in the Moreland Ward which will include information events, home safety checks and home security checks. Look out for further information on this page.
In January 2007, Gloucester was awarded the Government 'Respect Action Area' status, which is one of only 40 CDRPs across the country. The scheme is designed to clamp down and tackle the root causes of persistent bad behaviour by working with nuisance families through the Family Intervention Project (FIP). This multi agency project is a new initiative that will aim to challenge and change the behaviour of the most problematic families who terrorise the lives of people living in our communities. The Home Office has pumped around £350,000 into the initiative to target nuisance families in the city, where families will be subject to intensive supervision with their behaviour reviewed monthly.
The CDRP have five multi agency action groups to look at different types of crime:
- Anti Social Behaviour Action Group
- Property Crime Action Group
- Violent Crime Action Group
- Substance Action Group
- Hate Crime Action Group
The full Crime Reduction Strategy 2005 - 2008 can be viewed on the CDRP website: www.gloscrimereduction.org.uk
The Anti Social Behaviour Action Group includes members from the Community Safety Team, Anti Social Behaviour Unit, Police Officers, the Road Safety Unit, Fire Service and Housing Providers. By taking a multi agency approach, the group seeks to work together to show that anti social behaviour will be tackled, not tolerated. Examples of joint working are the prompt removal of abandoned vehicles, the mini moto enforcement campaign, and an initiative to stop aggressive begging in Gloucester.
Mini Moto Enforcement Campaign
In the summer of 2006, the Home Office Respect Taskforce provided funding for Gloucester CDRP to participate in a National Enforcement Campaign to stop the illegal and dangerous use of mini motos. The funding enabled the Police to purchase two off road motorcycles that enabled trained officers to apprehend offenders, issue fixed penalty notices and, where necessary, seize mini moto machines. It is illegal to ride a mini moto on the highway or on a public open space - in fact they can only be used on private land with the express permission of the landowner. At the launch of the campaign, a seized mini moto was sawn into pieces with maximum publicity coverage. Information events were held across the city and over a six week period throughout August and beginning of September, several operations were held, leading to the numbers of complaints reducing by two thirds, with continuing success throughout the autumn. Click hereto download a PDF of the enforcement poster.
  
Some mini motos have been seized and destroyed due to illegal use. Police and other agencies need the support of residents to tackle this nuisance.
If you know or have seen someone who you know or believe to be using a mini moto please let us know and tell us:
- The name and address of the owner of the bike
- Where the bike is stored
- When and where the bike is being used (any particular days or times, any particular routes ridden, etc.)
- Any other useful information like a description of those who use the bike and a description of the bike (make, model, colour, etc)
Who Should I Contact?
If you have any of the above information please call:
- Gloucestershire Police on 0845 090 1234
- Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Campaign to Reduce Street Begging
In the summer of 2006, the number of complaints of begging and aggressive begging rose in the city.
The city centre police took enforcement action to move the beggars on and where necessary, arrest them. A multi agency approach was taken to resolve the issues and a poster campaign was launched at the beginning on 2007 to ask people not to give money to beggars. Details of the agencies supporting the beggars were circulated to the enforcement officers, the Job Centre, Victim Support Service and the Citizen's Advice Bureau in order to strengthen the network and direct help where it is needed.
The posters asked people not to give money to beggars but to charity as money could be used to purchase drugs or alcohol. Click here to download a PDF of the Street Begging Poster.
The Property Crime Action Group strives to reduce domestic and non domestic burglaries, thefts from and of motor vehicles, shoplifting and personal robberies. Members include officers from the Community Safety Team, Gloucester City Council, Police, Neighbourhood Watch, National Car Parks and the University of Gloucestershire.
The Community Safety Team's Project Development Officer and the Police's Crime Reduction Officer give joint information sessions and talks to community groups on Personal Safety, Home Security and how to protect against Distraction Burglary. If you would like further information, or to book a talk, please telephone 01452 396984 or email: cdpartnership@gloucester.gov.uk.
The six CDRPs across the county jointly operate a Bogus Callers Helpline where advice is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the whole year for anyone who has someone knocking on their door that they do not recognise. If it is believed that the person could be in any sort of danger then the police will be called as an emergency. If you have a stranger at your door and you are anxious - telephone the free phone helpline number: 0808 1000 777.
The Gloucester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has also produced some "Nominated Neighbour" cards for the elderly to hold up to their window if they see a stranger at their front door. The card says "I do not recognise you, please call at my neighbours house at no.... and they will verify your identity". If neighbours join together, they can help each other out in checking stranger's details.
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The Crime Prevention Panel are a group of wonderful volunteers who assist the CDRP in many of their community safety events. They also attend the schools around Gloucester, one a month, on a rota, security postcoding bicycles and mobile phones. A bicycle that has been postcoded is less likely to be stolen and if it is stolen and later found by the Police, can be returned to the owner.
The Crime Prevention Panel also supply low cost security products. If you would like some information about home security measures, please access their website on www.gloucestercpp.org.ukfor an interactive house and garden information point.
The Violent Crime Action Group
The Violent Crime Action Group is chaired by Gloucester's Chief Inspector of Operations and is attended by the Licensing Officers from the City Council and the Police, and members of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, Accident and Emergency Department of Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, the Evening Economy Strategy Group, Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Project and DVACT.
The main issues around violent crime are concerned with Domestic Violence and Alcohol Related Violence on a Friday and Saturday night.
The CDRP have recently taken part in a huge publicity campaign to raise awareness of Domestic Violence to let the public know that the Police do take offences seriously and there will be a zero tolerance approach to perpetrators. Victims should be aware that independent help and advocacy is available through the 24 hour helpline of the Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Project - Tel: 01452 500115.
Click here to access poster from the recent Domestic Violence Awareness campaign and click here to download the same sex domestic violence poster.
The CDRP have led on several campaigns around binge drinking starting with Nightsafe in 2004 targeting 18 - 24 year old males and the follow up at Christmas 2005 and in the World Cup 2006) as well as Challenge 21.
Click here to download a Challenge 21 poster.
Gloucester's Licensed Victualler's Association are always very supportive of sensible drinking campaigns. On Valentine's Day 2007 nightclubs in Gloucester gave out "pink handbags" to young women with advice on sensible drinking in order to stay safe. The advice included information about keeping warm on a night out, drink spiking, safe sex and safe transport home from a venue. Click here to download a PDF of the leaflet inside the pink handbags.
Substance Action Group
The Gloucester Substance Action Group is made up of members from the Police, the Drug and Alcohol Action Team and all of the agencies across the city who help to provide support or housing to people who are or have been misusing drugs or alcohol and their families. Through Home Office Safer and Stronger Communities Funding, the CDRP assist with support to Gloucester Emergency Accommodation Resource - GEAR - for their Day Centre and Dry House Accommodation, to Gloucestershire Drug and Alcohol Service (GDAS) for an outreach worker, and towards the Community Integration Project and to Addicts in Recovery, a provision of training and support for substance users and ex users.
The CDRP also co-fund the work of the Severn Project working with Priority and Prolific Offenders. Members of the team include Police Officers, a Probation Officer and a Drugs Worker. Working together, and by offering an intensive level of support to the most prolific offenders, the amount of re-offending has reduced dramatically with financial savings to services and residents alike.
The Hate Crime Action Group
The Forest of Dean and Gloucester CDRPs have joined together to form the Forest & Gloucester Hate Crime & Incident Action Group. It is
a member of the Gloucestershire Hate Crime & Incident Strategic Group
A Hate Incident is defined as:
'Any incident (which may or may not be a crime), which is perceived by the victim or another person to be motivated by prejudice or hate'.
A Hate Crime is defined as;
'Any Hate incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, perceived by the victim or any other person, as being motivated by prejudice or hate'.
Hate crime is a violation of personal and civil rights.
Hate crimes are not only crimes against the targeted victim, but also attacks on communities.
To provide consistency in the recording of hate incidents, the Gloucestershire Constabulary and Gloucestershire Hate Crime & Incident Strategic Group have adopted the following categories by which to group and record incidents;
- Age (including Young and Old)
- Disability (including Mental Health)
- Gender (including Transgendered)
- Race (including Ethnicity)
- Religion or Belief
- Sexual Orientation (including Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual)
- Any other group identity
We can only take effective action against hate incidents if these crimes are reported, No one has the right to harass, threaten or assault you just because of who you are.
Reporting a Hate Incident or Crime
In the first instance hate crimes should be reported to the police. If you have witnessed or been the victim of a hate crime, do not hesitate to call 999 Or 112 (mobile) for the police and emergency services.
If you still have doubts about exactly where you should report a hate crime that you have either witnessed or experienced, telephone 0845 090 1234 (Gloucestershire Police) for advice.
If you feel that you need support in order to report a hate crime, ask a trusted friend, family member, colleague, teacher, or your GP to help you, or telephone:
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or
Gloucestershire Police on 0845 090 1234 for support in making your report.
Support Groups
General Support Groups
- Victim Support Gloucestershire
- Victim Support Gloucester
- Churchdown Suite
- Spread Eagle Court
106/114 Northgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 1SL
tel: 01452 506 450
fax: 01452 386 620
email: vsggloucestervs@uk.uumail.com
Website: www.victimsupport.co.uk
Racially motivated Hate Crimes & Incidents
The Racist Incident Helpline
The helpline is NOT FOR EMERGENCY CALLS - it provides an independent alternative for reporting non urgent incidents to the police.
Racist Incident Helpline: 0800 169 4139
Gloucestershire Race Equality Council
The Race Equality Council for Gloucestershire (GlosREC) aims to provide support, advice, information and representation to individual victims of racial discrimination and racial harassment within Gloucestershire.
Contact details:
GlosREC
15 Brunswick Road
Gloucester GL1 1HG
Telephone: 01452 301290
Email: enquiries@glosrec.org.uk
Website: http://www.glosrec.org.uk
Sexual Orientation
Gay-Glos
PO Box 171
Gloucester
GL1 4YE
Telephone: 01452 306800
Website: http://www.gay-glos.org
Hate crime is a violation of personal and civil rights.
Hate crimes are not only crimes against the targeted victim, Hate crime is an attack on our communities.
The Hate Crime Action Group is working to promote awareness and plans to hold at least two awareness campaigns to encourage tolerant and inclusive communities by March 2008.
Last Updated: 28/08/07
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