Neighbourhood partnership helps to cut crime
Released: 8 Aug 2007
Crime in Bilston North has been cut by nearly 50 per cent in the 12 months since the area’s neighbourhood partnership was set up to improve links between residents and local agencies.
Bilston North Neighbourhood Partnership has brought together people and groups with an interest in making the area a better place to live and work, including residents, the city council, West Midlands Police and Wolverhampton Homes.
Since July 2006, when the partnership was formed, crime has dropped by 47 per cent and continues to be on a downward trend.
Chaired by Councillor Phil Page, with Neighbourhood Manager Steve Iafrati, and Neighbourhood Partnership Officer Jo Mason at the forefront, the partnership has made it easier for residents and services to talk to each other. The community has been able to play a central role in identifying priorities and offer advice on how best to approach problems, through arenas such as monthly meetings and extensive consultation.
Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said: “Bilston North is a better place to live and work than it was a year ago.
“The partnership has really helped agencies to work together more effectively to co-ordinate their activities and join forces where necessary - and the difference is clear to see.
“The council has been delighted to play its part through focusing services such as neighbourhood wardens, the anti-social behaviour unit and the youth service where they are really needed.”
Councillor Page said: “Joint working between the police, Wolverhampton Homes and the city council along with active community involvement has really paid dividends.
“We have increasingly strong links between communities and officers in Bilston North and are reaping the benefits of living in an area with significantly less crime and anti-social behaviour.”
The dramatic drop in crime has delighted residents, as revealed in consultations and meetings.
Last autumn, during extensive public consultations carried out by the partnership, residents were angry at the levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood. People also spoke about feeling too scared to report crime and powerless to prevent its rise. One local resident said: “I’m too scared to go out at night. There are groups of lads hanging around and I have had my fence and front door damaged many times.”
However people are now saying that they feel safe in their neighbourhoods and are happy about going out at night.
At a recent Bilston North Crime and Community Safety meeting, one person said: “The change has been wonderful. This time last year we could have given you a list as long as your arm of complaints. Twelve months on the problems have decreased and we feel much happier. If I am honest, I am hard pressed to think of much to say about crime and anti-social behaviour in my neighbourhood.”
Inspector John Harpur from West Midlands Police said they had listened closely to such comments to help tackle crime.
“Neighbourhood policing has enabled us to work in the heart of these communities and develop trust and an understanding of their concerns. We feel we are effectively targeting crime in the Bilston North area and working in partnership has been a huge help,” he said.
Denise Pearson, Assistant Area Manager for Wolverhampton Homes at Bilston Housing Office added: “Joint working with the police, wardens and other agencies has allowed us to really get to grips with anti-social behaviour and tackle some of the worst offenders. In Bilston North, anti-social behaviour is now at an all-time low.”
Issued by the press office.