NCSN News
Gordon Brown praises 'surprised' Community Safety Hero's
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith addressed NCSN members and Community Safety professionals at the 'Delivering Safer & Confident Communities Together Conference', at Chelsea football stadium on Tuesday, 12th May and introduced Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, as a surprise opening speaker.
Mr. Brown announced record low levels of crime and disorder and thanked all those involved in Community Safety for cutting crime, and promised further government funding and support. Referring to Community Safety practitioners as "community leaders and local heroes" he stated "your success at a local level is what makes the difference, not crime statistics."
Praising Community Safety professionals for their hard work Mr. Brown indicated that victimisation through Crime and Anti Social behaviour, were at a record low. This included violent crime and a 16% reduction in firearms offences in the last year.
The Prime Minister emphasised further reform was required to support professionals and maintain the successes and achievements to date. He said “We have the best police in the world, but need to bring them and the Criminal Justice System closer to communities.” Mr. Brown stressed that this required further and continued investment with long term funding being preferable to short term projects, where successful schemes were not always continued.
Mr. Brown then gave a detailed speech on crime, highlighting a range of successes and promised continued support for initiatives in the future. He took this opportunity to announce new 'Anti Crime Strategies', which will be outlined in a white paper this autumn. His speech covered the following issues:
A New Neighbourhood Policing Pledge; this will deliver greater productivity and efficiencies and provide local people with greater access to neighbourhood responses. He described this as a “new vision where people ask for and get local action.”
Prevention & Punishment
Where the Police and Courts punish offenders, Communities are to be informed via reports of court decisions and case updates. New measures will include greater support for witnesses and victims of crime, who will be consulted and asked to participate in the decision processes.
Increased Proceeds of Crime Seizures
Seizures under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) have risen to £135 million over the last year. Now there will be a shift of the burden of proof to cover a wider range of criminal activity to generate even greater seizures.
POCA monies for Communities
An initial sum of £4 million will be made available to communities to address local issues with new initiatives. Areas were encouraged to generate innovative solutions to local problems and announce successes so that other areas are able to follow good practice. The £4 million would be for whatever local people decide to spend it upon.
Fear of Crime
Communities will be encouraged to identify hot spot areas, where they do not feel safe, on an interactive web site. These areas will then be targeted by professional responses, increased patrols, CCTV or local initiatives paid for from £40 BCU (Basic Command Unit) funding.
Community Payback Schemes, Domestic Violence Courts & Virtual Courts
All these initiatives have been successful and will now be introduced in every area. Virtual courts pilots have seen offenders sentenced within 4 hours of arrest, via video link to a Magistrates Court.
Police Efficiency
Efficiency has been improved by streamlining prosecution processes.
Now new hand held data terminals will further reduce Police bureaucracy saving, on average, 30 minutes on every officers shift.
Burglary and Robbery initiatives
Further funding and support will be made available, via local initiatives, to address problems where they exist.
DNA Retention
DNA convictions have tripled over the last year and dangerous criminals have been convicted as a result of samples being retained from suspected offenders. Therefore these DNA samples will be retained in future.
Safer Schools Partnerships
Were encouraged together with new automatic triggers to identify problematic families at an initial stage, so that early interventions can be put in place.
Mandatory code for Licensees
Will be introduced to stop cheap drinks and 'happy hour' promotions.
Mr. Brown closed by telling Community Safety Professionals that “the work you do is keeping people safe in a more tolerant and safer Britain.”
NCSN Comment
The Prime Ministers attendance, together with his praise of Community Safety Practitioners and pledges of continued support and investment were
as unexpected as they were welcome. NCSN members present indicated
that they were pleasantly surprised with the forthcoming 'Anti Crime strategies’
which will undoubtedly be a hot topic of conversation at next month’s NCSN conference in Leeds. In the interim, responses, to the Prime Ministers announcements, from members would be welcome, especially from those who have examples for innovative local solutions to reduce crime and disorder proposed by Mr. Brown.
If you are an NCSN member you can respond using our interactive news section and view other practitioners responses.
Or contact granta@community-safety.net
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