Crime
The overall aim of this theme is to reduce the fear of crime within the community and to ensure that residents are satisfied with the area as a place to live.
The following areas of work are the key strategies in achieving these aims;
- Physical anti crime measures such as target hardening vulnerable domestic properties; providing security grants to local businesses and an alleygating
- Visible policing and effective detection through the specific NDC Police team ring fenced within the area that compliment the mainstream Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers
- Enforcement activities such as securing Anti Social Behaviour Orders; increased under age sale visits to Licensed premises and issuing fixed penalty notices for fly tipping and litter.
- Education and diversion activities such as introducing a Responsible Licensee Scheme; delivering Restorative Justice Schemes within local secondary schools; encouraging residents to complete Anti Social Behaviour Diaries and youth diversion activities.
Projects
Safe and Secure– The Safe and Secure Phase Two Project is still running. The project is available to residents who are victims of burglary, are vulnerable or if their property is in vulnerable location. A survey will be completed and appropriate measures installed such as a burglary alarm, security light and window locks.
Alleygating – This project falls within the Designing Out Crime project. It enables gates to be installed on unadopted alleyways that have been suffering from crime and anti social behaviour problems.
Business Security Project – This project is available to businesses in the area that wish to apply for a grant from NDC to target harden their property. The business will be expected to contribute 25% towards the total costs of the security measures.
NDC Police Team – The NDC has one Sergeant and 3 Police Officers who work exclusively in Hathershaw & Fitton Hill. They work alongside mainstream officers and a range of other agencies.
Anti Social Behaviour Officers & Crime Reduction Officer – We employ a dedicated crime reduction officer & an Anti Social behaviour in the area from Oldham Community Safety Unit. They are responsible for managing the target hardening projects. Anti Social Behaviour Officer leads on tackling anti social behaviour cases within the area and has the ability to take Anti social Behaviour Orders forward.
Trading Standards – Additional Trading Standards activity that concentrates on enforcement activity through conducting higher than average test purchasing sales in licensed premises that identifies under age sales of alcohol and other restricted goods.
Youth Inclusion Project – This project targets the 50 young people most at risk of offending in the area providing a range of activities Staff conduct outreach sessions within hot spots in the area on a bi weekly basis.
10 Year Targets
NDC has adopted a strategy that tackles fear of crime and ensures that residents are satisfied with the area that they live. The key targets are:
- The percentage of residents feeling unsafe walking alone after dark will have fallen to 10% or less.
- To reduce domestic burglary by 30% by 08.09 based on 04.05 targets achieved.
- To reduce vehicle crime by 26% by 08.09 based on 04.05 targets achieved.
- To reduce criminal damage by 30% based on 04.05 targets achieved.
The Story So Far
From April 2003 to March 2004 compared with April 2004 to March 2005, the NDC programme has reduced crime rates at a faster rate than the rest of the borough.
| Stats Qtr 1 | April 07/08 | May 07/08 | June 07/08 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary | 8 | 8 | 18 |
| Robbery | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Criminal Damage | 25 | 38 | 23 |
| Hate Crime | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Violent Crime | 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Vehicle Crime | 11 | 15 | 6 |
| Total | 61 | 67 | 53 |
During this period:
- domestic burglary reduced by 42% within the NDC area compared to 34% across the rest of Oldham
- criminal damage reduced by 14% within the NDC area compared to 10% across the rest of Oldham
- total crimes reduced by 21% within the NDC area compared to 16% across the rest of Oldham
There is an operational group that meet every 6-8 weeks called the Safer Communities Steering group. It consists of partners such as:- Registered Social Landlords like Villages Housing Association, First Choice Homes, Places for People Trading Standards, Police, Youth Service, Youth Inclusion Project,Community Safety Unit, Environmental Services. This group compliments the public Multi Agency Partnership Meetings (MAP’s) that meet across the whole of Oldham where residents are able to attend.
This Safer Communities Steering group reflects the long term direction planned by the Liveability Theme Group.
