Aims of the West Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership

The Government has set the West Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership the target of cutting crime in the district by 12.5% by 2008. We aim to achieve this by tackling the key issues listed here. There are eight strategic priorities for West Wiltshire. These are:

Reducing crimes of violence

Violent crime has a large impact on people's lives and can incur very high social and economic costs. West Wiltshire's Community Safety Partners will concentrate their efforts on:

Domestic violence

• Reducing incidents of domestic violence

• Increasing the proportion of victims who report incidents to the police

• Increasing the proportion of victims receiving help and support

• Reducing the harm caused to children by domestic violence and abuse

• Reducing re-offending by perpetrators of domestic violence

Alcohol-related violence and disorder

• Reducing the volume of alcohol-related violent crime and disorder

• Ensuring safer pubs, clubs and town centres

• Reducing re-offending through the Alcohol Referral Programme for Offenders and Victims (ARPOV)

Reducing anti-social behaviour

Anti-social behaviour damages communities and has a serious effect on the quality of life. Members of the Partnership will work together to tackle:

• Vandalism and graffiti

• Litter and rubbish

• Nuisance vehicles - including those driven inappropriately, abandoned vehicles and those parked and repaired irresponsibly

• Fire-related anti-social behaviour

• Complaints about anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods

The Partnership will raise awareness and use the reporting process for incidents of anti-social behaviour. A baseline will be set in 2005 - 2006 from which an annual target reduction will be agreed.

Prioritising higher crime neighbourhoods

The level of crime differs across the 55 wards in West Wiltshire. The two wards with the highest rate of crime in 2002/03 accounted for almost a third of all West Wiltshire's recorded crime.

Our aim is to concentrate on the areas which experience the most crime and anti-social behaviour.

We will work with local people and community planners to reduce crime and improve the quality of life.

Reducing road casualties

Road casualties can be the result of careless or criminal behaviour. Working with the Wiltshire Road Safety Partnership, we intend to:

• Reduce deaths and serious injuries

• Maintain targeted education campaigns

• Achieve greater conformity with speed limits

• Make collision hotspots safer through consultation and re-design

Targets - a reduction in deaths and serious injuries on Wiltshire's roads from 287 (2003) to 231 adults (2007) and a reduction in deaths and serious injuries to children from 22 (2003) to 18 (2007).

Making people feel safer

Public surveys suggest that many people in West Wiltshire have a disproportionately high fear of crime.To allay these fears the Partnership will:

• Provide accurate figures on current trends

• Provide information on the success of community safety initiatives

• Advise local people on sensible precautions to take to minimise the risks of becoming a victim of crime

• Encourage individuals and community groups to play an active part in preventing and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour

Reducing drug and alcohol related harm

The misuse of alcohol and drugs is associated with particular crime types, such as violence, criminal damage and property crime. It can also cause harm to the users, their families, friends and colleagues.

Our objectives are to:

• Reduce drug and alcohol-related harm through education and information, treatment, rehabilitation and resettlement, and support for families

• Increase the number of drug users in treatment, reduce waiting times, and reduce re-offending

• Ensure that suitable good quality drug services are available to all

• Work towards reducing the supply of illegal drugs

• Provide support and advice to people wishing to become less dependent on drugs and alcohol

Reducing offending behaviour

National figures show that about 5,000 people commit nearly 10% of all crime. The most prolific offenders in West Wiltshire will be targeted in accordance with the Prolific and Priority Offenders Scheme in order to reduce the frequency and severity of their crimes.

Reducing victimisation

The Community Safety Partnership recognises that some groups of people are more vulnerable to victimisation.

Our objectives are to:

• Increase the proportion of incidents of race or hate crime which are reported to the Police, other partners and local voluntary organisations

• Reduce distraction burglaries

• Increase feelings of safety and reduce fear of crime