TACKLING CRIME AND DISORDER IN ST.HELENS – WARD UPDATE RAINFORD

The table below shows crime figures for a selection of crime and anti-social behaviour types for the period April to November 2008 and 2009. The overall reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour has been maintained and significant reductions are being experienced across the borough. One area of concern is the theft from motor vehicles where most Wards are showing increases compared to 2008. This may be a reflection of the current economic situation although other significant acquisitive crimes continue to show reductions.

April to Nov April to Nov +/- % 2008/09 2009/10 Borough Wide Profile British Crime Survey Comparator Crimes 5134 4237 - 17.5% Total Recorded Crime 9239 8052 - 12.8%

Ward Profile British Crime Survey Comparator Crimes 100 106 6.0% Total Recorded Crime 180 210 16.7%

Theft of a Vehicle 15 5 - 66.7% Theft from a Vehicle 19 32 68.4% Domestic Burglary 13 24 84.6% Theft from a Person 0 0 Criminal Damage and Arson 34 21 -38.2% Drug Offences 28 37 32.1%

Anti -Social Behaviour calls to the Police • Rowdy Behaviour 83 69 -16.9% • Nuisance Vehicles 4 11 175.0% • Street Drinking 3 0 - 100.0%

Merseyside Police - Your Neighbourhood Inspector is Ian Cooper and your Neighbourhood Sergeant is Bob Clewes.

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Annual Report and Survey

The CDRP annual report and survey was sent out to St. Helens residents in December 2009. The annual report reviews what St. Helens Council and Crime Reduction Partners have done and what we are going to do towards tackling anti- social behaviour, crime and disorder in St. Helens. It identifies our key priorities for 2009/10, which are anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol related crime, violent crime, domestic burglary, personal robbery, vehicle crime and hate crime. Feedback from the survey completed by local residents will help us to identify the issues affecting the area they live.

Borough Wide Initiatives

The Force Will Be With You

The Home Office have launched the latest phase of their ‘Justice Seen, Justice Done’ campaign. This aims to increase awareness among members of the public of what they can expect from their local services, including the Police and Council.

As part of this there has been TV, radio, press and online advertisements focusing on the Policing Pledge - a set of promises made by all of the police forces in and Wales. These promises focus on supporting law abiding citizens and ensuring that local communities have a voice – guaranteeing that wherever someone lives they can expect a minimum level of service.

Just some of the promises include:

Contact You will be able to talk to officers when and how it suits you, face-to- face, by e-email or at a public meeting.

Visibility You can expect your Neighbourhood Policing Team officers to spend 80 per cent of their time out on the beat tackling your priorities.

Feedback You will be kept up to date about what your Neighbourhood Policing Team is doing to combat crime where you live. If you’ve been the victim of a crime you’ll be kept informed about the progress of the case.

Merseyside Police and local public sector agencies held a number of Community Engagement Events across St. Helens last year, as part of a Home Office Initiative called, "Not In My Neighbourhood Week." This included a number of crime prevention events including a 'Homewatch recruitment event' at Whiston Hospital, encouraging local residents to set up Homewatch schemes in their communities and ‘video diary room’ type sessions gave members of the public the chance to record their views about anti-social behaviour in The Merseyside Police Anti-Social Behaviour Publicity Pod.

Members of the St. Helens Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, including St. Helens Council and Merseyside Police could also be found at information points in Tesco and The Hardshaw Centre (Town Centre) addressing community concerns and offering crime prevention advice.

In total, partner agencies engaged with over 500 people to try and fully understand and deal with the issues and concerns that matter most in their communities. Feedback from local residents was positive and those who did have concerns were offered crime prevention advice.

Chief Inspector Mike Constantine said, "Not In My Neighbourhood Week was a great opportunity for all partners to speak to the local community. The Police were particularly keen to speak to members of the public to try and find out what concerns they have in their local community so that we can address them.”

New polling by Ipsos Mori conducted on behalf of the Home Office shows that 81 percent of people say they would find it useful to receive information which provided the contact details for the local police and other crime and anti-social behaviour services in their area. For those interested in or concerned about crime and justice in their area, or those who want to know how they can play a part in the fight against crime, a new website has been launched. At www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge people can search for their local Neighbourhood Policing Team via a postcode search that takes them to their force website, as well as to local anti-social behaviour information, crime maps, their probation website (where they can nominate local Community Payback projects) and services for victims and witnesses. The adverts have been coupled with a leaflet drop to just over 6 million households in 60 areas across the country to provide them with information about anti-social behaviour services, who to contact and how to complain if services aren’t providing what they should, as well as informing them about the Pledge.

Community Crime Fighters

47 Residents from St. Helens have signed up to become Community Crime Fighters over the past year!

Community Crime Fighters is a training programme that aims to coach community groups and citizens to play a stronger role in the fight against crime. The volunteers from St. Helens have attended training events in where they received information about how Neighbourhood Policing Teams are structured, The Policing Pledge and the powers used by Crime Reduction Partners to reduce crime and anti- social behaviour in their area. They were also informed about The Merseyside Probation Trust Community Payback scheme and given insight into the decision making process used by The Crown Prosecution Service for cases put before courts.

Peter Mallett, Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Coordinator for St. Helens Council said, “The number of St. Helens Residents taking part is a fantastic achievement and the spread of people across the Borough means that almost all Wards now have trained individuals in them! The idea is that people equipped with information about initiatives in place to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour will be better informed and able to advise others in their communities as to how the various partners work.”

Further information about Crime Fighter training can be obtained from Peter Mallett, Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Coordinator. 01744 673021 or [email protected]

Operation Good Guy

Last year our annual 'Good Guy' operation ran from 19th October to 9th November 2009. The proactive multi-agency operation aimed to provide a cleaner and safer environment during the bonfire period, and reduce the number of nuisance fires and anti-social behaviour in the Borough.

As a result there were some significant reductions in anti-social behaviour and nuisance caused by bonfires and fireworks when compared to the same period in 2008.

There was a: -

• 20% reduction in anti-social behaviour; • 59% reduction in anti-social behaviour fires from the 4 th – 6th November; • 20% reduction in the number of firework incidents; • 58% reduction in the number of bonfires; and; • 43% reduction in the number of rowdy gatherings throughout the Borough

Local residents were encouraged to report the build up of combustible material to St. Helens Council’s Contact Centre, whose number was promoted in the local press, on the Safer St. Helens and St. Helens Council Websites, through a radio advertisement campaign and on a highly visible ‘Ad-Van’, which could be seen touring throughout St. Helens. As a result partner agencies removed over 260 tonnes of combustible material across the Borough.

Partner agencies were awarded for their combined efforts at a Merseyside Fire and Rescue award ceremony on the 20 th November 2009, were they received a certificate of merit for ensuring another safer bonfire period was experienced by all.

Ward Initiatives

Arrests, charges and convictions

On 15 th October 2009 Calla Jade Johnson, 20 years, of Grange Park Road, St Helens appeared at St Helens Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to assaulting a Police Community Support Officer in Southern Lane, Rainford. She was placed on a Community Order for 12 months, which includes a supervision requirement by the Probation Service, and was required to pay £85 prosecution costs.

On 4 th November 2009 Kevin Fitzgerald, 36 years of Lathom Close, Prescot appeared at St. Helens Magistrates Court charged with possession of amphetamine in Sidings Lane, Rainford. He pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge for 18 months and was required to pay £85 prosecution costs.

On the 19 th November 2009 Le Vi Van, 28 years, of no fixed address appeared at St Helens Magistrates Court charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis in an Industrial Unit in Sandwash Close, Rainford. He was further remanded in custody until the 7 th December 2009.

Crime Prevention

Merseyside Police are asking residents to please be aware of ‘bogus callers’ to your home and are offering the following advice;

• Use your door viewer (spy hole) and door chain before opening the door to anyone; • Make sure visitors are who they say they are by asking to see their identity card; • If in doubt, phone the visitor’s company and check their details; and • Check that your back door is locked when talking to someone at your front door.

Priority Setting

You said

At the last Community Priority Meeting held on Wednesday 8 th September 2009 it was agreed by those present to set the Church Road and the area around Cross Pit Lane as the new priority location to address issues of anti-social behaviour, litter, noise and parking.

We did

In November your local Neighbourhood Policing Team gave the Church Road location lots of attention with high visibility patrolling. 9 stops have been conducted on people in this area and Police Officers have seized two bottles of alcohol and cannabis grinder from two of these people. Furthermore, Merseyside police have only received one report of anti-social behaviour in this location, compared with 11 in the same period last year.

Additionally, a male was arrested for drunk and disorderly in Queensway and a further two persons have arrested for possessing controlled drugs in Sidings Lane.

Three motorists have also been issued further fixed penalty notices to three for parking on the Pelican Crossing zigzag lines and causing an obstruction and other motorists being warned for inconsiderate parking in this location.

Merseyside Police and Crime Reduction Partner Agencies held a crime prevention event at the Coop supermarket, which was well received and have also conducted Speedwatch checks in News Lane and in Pimbo Lane. Merseyside Police monitored the speed of over 80 vehicles and only three drivers were recorded, as traveling over 36mph. Speedwatch checks will continue over the coming months so please obey the speed restrictions within the village.

Useful Contacts

0151 709 6010 – NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER (general enquiries, speak to Neighbourhood Officers)

999 – EMERGENCY

0800 555 111 – CRIMESTOPPERS (providing information about crime in your area anonymously)

Further information can be found at – www.merseyside.police.uk

St Helens Council

Tel: 01744 456789

Email: [email protected]