Annual Update Report
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Appendix 1 - SAFER BELFAST PLAN ANNUAL UPDATE – 2009/2010 Funding arrangement for the initiatives below vary but typically involve an allocation from the CSP’s indicative funding from the NIO and/or a package of funding from external partners and potentially Belfast City Council. For details of individual initiatives please contact the relevant Community Safety Coordinator (contact details are included at the end of this report). Also, it should be noted that following recent restructuring the Community Safety and District Policing Teams now work side by side. To facilitate the future development of a single, integrated approach staff therefore work on both a geographical and thematic basis. STAFF TEAM AREA WORKING UPDATE NORTH NORTH Richard McLernon Attendance at Greater Shankill Community Safety Network, Ardoyne/Marrowbone Community Safety Forum, CRC (CS) Interface Working Group, Shankill Alternatives, North Belfast Area Partnership Board, Tigers Bay Community Phyllis Anderson Safety Forum, Skegoniel Forum, North Belfast Community Safety Forum (New Lodge to Whitewell), Sinn Fein (DPP) Strategic North Belfast Group and Shankill PACT. The new city wide warden scheme was first deployed in Jellico and was well received by the local community. SOUTH SOUTH Denise Smith (CS) Attendance at Holylands PACT meetings & leadership of Holylands Interagency Group. Kirsten Mullen Work to address ASB in Donegal Pass & Finaghy Crossroads. (DPP) Initial meeting held in Taughmonagh to explore the establishment of a local community safety forum for the area. Submission for Peace III proposal for possible project in South Belfast (Donegal Pass and Greater Village Areas). Efforts to support Belfast City Centre Beat to get additional funding. 6th Formers consultation event hosted with DPP. EAST EAST Suzanne Gowling Attendance at EBCDA and Inner East Antisocial Behaviour Young People Partnership as well as several (CS) neighbourhood fora in Orangefield, Cregagh, Sydenham and other areas. Johanna Neill (DPP) 6th Formers consultation event hosted with DPP. WEST WEST Stevie Lavery (CS) Support role for West Belfast Community Safety Forum & Steering group. A community-led action plan in Kirsten Mullen (DPP) partnership with statutory agencies is at final draft stage and will be presented to the Forum and Steering Group for ratification. The West Belfast Community Safety Facilitator post has been extended until March 2011. Wardens have been deployed in Greater Lenadoon & Suffolk area February-May 10 and have been well received. City wide 4 public events hosted by DPP including a Christmas Safety Event, and events themed around Neighbourhood Watch, Management of Violent and Sexual Offenders and the Workings of the Criminal Justice System. The Hate Crime Officer was appointed in October 09 and acts as project manager for the following Safer Belfast HATE CRIME - Projects: Richard McLernon Tension Monitoring – a rapid response process to emerging issues/hotspots based on the EEP model (Evidenced, Experienced, Potential). Hate Crime Awareness Project – funding for up to £500 for events that address hate crime. Will be made available on an ongoing basis throughout 2010. Hate Crime Training and Engagement Project – Healing Through Remembering are delivering two training projects on our behalf – one hate crime training delivered to hard to reach groups, and one hate crime training of trainers project. Hate Crime Convention - took place in Sept 09. 102 people attended and a follow on workshop began the process of developing a Hate Crime Strategy. Planning is underway for the Hate Crime Convention 2010. Additional initiatives being led by the Community Safety Coordinator (Hate Crime) include: Chinese/Polish Advocate Project – part fund and member of steering group. Transphobic Hate Crime Research – part fund and member of steering group convened by OFMDFM. LGBT Advocate Project – in discussions on the development of an LGBT advocate project. Interface Working Group – member of this forum looking at peace walls and interfaces erected as a result of sectarian violence. Cohesion Mapping – we are conducting a mapping exercise to look at cohesion and hate crime in Belfast to support future planning. ICOCO links – we continue to develop our relationship with ICOCO in addressing hate crime in Belfast. Task and Finish Group process – between April and September 2010 a draft hate crime strategy will be HATE CRIME produced. (cont’d) Communication Sub-group - subgroup to look at media engagement and how best to use communication. Travellers Initiative – we are working with partners to develop a conflict management protocol for the travelling community in Greater Belfast. Initiatives include: FEEL SAFER - Good Morning Project – A funding agreement is now in place to support a city-wide service via the existing Denise Smith schemes (Good Morning West, Lagan Village, Good Morning Ballysillan, Good Morning NI Network). Funders include Atlantic Philanthropies, NIO, BRO, NIHE, BCC and Dept of Health. The Evaluation/ research element of the project should be initiated in the next few months. Intergenerational Project – funding has been secured from Atlantic Philanthropies to develop a Belfast and Northern Ireland approach to Intergenerational Practice, employ coordinating staff and run a small grants programme. Staff are in post and the group have completed their small grants programme; 10 groups from Belfast received funding. There will be a regional small grants scheme advertised in April 10. The officers are organising an event to celebrate the European Union Day of Solidarity and Co-operation (date TBC). Information and Communication Project – Officer employed to coordinator the communication of Belfast Community Safety Partnership and Safer Belfast Projects. Current work involves CCTV launch, St Patrick’s Day events, Youth Awards, Small grant, updates on website – Alleygates and Wardens. Young Peoples Awards – Annual event recognising the efforts of young people to improve safety & their communities. This year saw an increase of over 500% in applications and the awards event was held on the 30th March Waterfront Hall attended by over 300 people. CCTV – Launch of CCTV took place on 11th March 2010. Cameras are now operational in the Holylands area of the city. The Cameras are being monitored from Musgrave Street Station. Questionnaire to be distributed to students, residents living in the area to determine feelings of safety. ASB – Wardens – Suzanne Gowling Wardens are currently deployed in the wider University area and will be there until the end of term. Wardens were deployed from 3.11.09-25.2.10 in the Jellico area & engagement is currently ongoing to facilitate deployment into Ardoyne from May. Wardens have been deployed in Lenadoon and Suffolk areas since 17th February. ASB (cont’d) In the first six months of deployment they have dealt with over 300 incidents Community Training - The “How to Tackle Antisocial Behaviour” training pack for communities has been developed by Mediation NI and is currently being finalised. The pack will be delivered to 12 community groups across the city. The training has been advertised in City Matters and should elected representatives wish to nominate a group please contact your local Anti-Social Behaviour Officer. Youth Outreach - ‘Challenge For Youth’ and ‘Northern Ireland Alternatives’ are delivering this programme as a joint partnership and have engaged with over 200 young people across the city in group and detached work as well as formal training. Intensive work is also underway with 12 young people from communities across the city. Community Safety Small Grants – The latest round of small grants closed on Friday 9th April 2010. Community and voluntary groups are able to apply for a grant of up to £1,000 to develop community-led interventions. Alleygates – Belfast City Council has agreed the streets which will be gated using capital funding from Council, and community consultation is currently being undertaken in those areas. Antisocial Behaviour Fora – ASB officers continue to convene four area based on an ongoing basis. Discussions are currently underway with partners to develop a terms of reference for the forums. Over the course of the year the For a have considered over 150 individuals. Tasking (Hotspot work) – An interagency group has been meeting every 2-3 months to review the top hotspot in each quarter of the city and to develop tailored interventions in response e.g.: NORTH – Ardoyne, Jellico, Shore Road & Lower Oldpark. EAST – Ardenlee, Short/Strand & Lowers Newtownards Road. Have helped establish an Inner East Belfast Antisocial Behaviour/Young People Interface. WEST – Lower Falls, St James, Turf Lodge. SOUTH – Ulsterville/Wider University Area, Donegall Pass, Greater Village. ALCOHOL FUELLED Initiatives include: VIOLENT CRIME – Joint Enforcement Work – Ongoing operations across the city to prevent on-street drinking each weekend. Stevie Lavery Council officers can now take statements for prosecution when working with PSNI. Alcohol Bye-Laws – Prosecutions 09/10 = 500+ - compared to 06/07 = 156. Alcohol seizures 2009 /10 = 14,225 units. Review of bye-laws being undertaken including re-designation of streets covered under bye-law. GHS Marketing Campaign – Re-tender process has begun. Bar Staff/off-licence training - 132 bar staff / off-licence trained 2009/10. BELFAST CITY COUNCIL - UNIT STRUCTURE (APRIL 2010) OFFICER Geographical Thematic ASB OFFICERS Remit responsibility Denise Smith (CS) South Feel Safer Stephen Wells Tel. 07825141098 (maternity leave from 14 May) Tel. 07827332830 Kirsten Mullen (DPP) Tel: 0779 5564 346 Richard McLernon (CS) North Hate Crime Mark Corbett Eve Bremner Tel. 07803604647 Tel. 07917544365 Safer City Manager Phyllis Anderson (DPP) Tel: 0782 5140 577 Ext. 3275/ 07789873530 Stevie Lavery (CS) West Alcohol Fuelled Heather Horner Tel. 07825140247 Violent Crime Tel. 07825140523 Kirsten Mullen (DPP) Tel: 0779 5564 346 Suzanne Gowling (CS) East ASB Edele Cleary Tel. 07879622282 Tel: 07825 140634 Johanna Neill (DPP) Tel: 0779 5564 343 Lorna Somers – DPP Manager Tel. 07917544050.