Forum reveals town is getting safer (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Forum reveals town is getting safer

10:40am Monday 20th October 2008 in Search Module By Vicky O'Hare

BASINGSTOKE and Deane continues to be a safe place to live, work and visit – according to the latest report from the Community Safety Forum.

The report, which covers the past six months, shows a steady decline in criminal damage, which was down 17.8 per cent from the previous six months, and a significant drop in anti-social behaviour, down 27 per cent compared with the previous six months.

The number of incidents involving wounding or violent crime also saw a drop of 15 per cent, and domestic violence fell by 9.6 per cent.

The Community Safety Forum comprises representatives from Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, local housing associations and others.

Chief Inspector Jill Baldry, district commander for Basingstoke and Deane and chairman of the forum, said: “This is great news and we hope that the decline in crime and disorder continues even further.”

Many initiatives have already been rolled out across the borough, including:

• sanctuary schemes to help victims of domestic violence to stay in their homes
• PCSOs patrolling even more areas of the borough
• members of Neighbourhood Watch schemes trained to remove graffiti/li>
• Street Pastors – a team that patrols the town centre at the weekends to help prevent anti-social behaviour/li>
• Crime Reduction Environment Work (CREW) in Oakridge to help identify and resolve problems in the area.
• Councillor Clive Sanders, Cabinet member for community safety and development, said: “Generally speaking, crime and disorder are low, but there is always more that can be done and specific problems that need addressing.”