Greater Uniformed presence

People feel safer in town centres when reassured by the presence of people in uniform, not just police officers. People should expect to walk through town centres safely, day or night without fear of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. Uniformed staff provide a reassuring presence.

Central to the task of keeping town centres safe is an effective police operation with a sufficient number of well-trained and directed officers who are known to local venues and responsive to the needs and expectations of local communities.

Community Safety Accreditation allows a Chief Constable to designate a limited range of powers, similar to those held by CSOs, to people working in a community safety capacity, for example neighbourhood wardens and security guards. Designed to foster better communication and information sharing between local partners on both a strategic and day to day basis, it enables patrols to be organised in a way that makes the most of police and partner resources.

Free phone lines in hospital accident and emergency departments, which connect victims of crime with the police, can be an effective way of ensuring that crimes are reported and support is easily reached.

The Police and Justice Act 2006 is intended to help build safer communities by sustaining further improvements in police performance at neighbourhood, force, national and international levels. The Act includes measures to drive forward key elements of the government’s police reform programme included in the Respect Action Plan.
The Act includes measures that will:
Establish the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) that will assist police forces to fulfil ‘mission critical’ priorities by providing operational support and dissemination of good practice
Create a standard set of powers available to all Community Support Officers (CSOs) regardless of their force. This will ensure that CSOs are equipped to deal with anti-social behaviour and low level crime, and will resolve public confusion surrounding CSO powers
Amend the partnership provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to make Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) (in Wales Community Safety Partnerships) more effective when tackling crime
anti-social behaviour and substance misuse in their communities
For more information on the Act visit the Home Office Police website at www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk

Tools for Delivery and Success

Community Support Officers - Chief Constables can designate CSOs with a range of powers including the right to request the name and address of a person behaving in an anti-social manner and the power to confiscate alcohol from young people and those drinking in designated public areas. Interim evaluation of CSOs has shown satisfaction with the police has increased and people feel safer when out after dark. For more information visit
www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk

Neighbourhood Wardens provide a highly visible, uniformed, semi-official presence in residential and public areas, town centres and high-crime areas. Research has found that warden programmes have contributed to a 28% fall in the level of crime in their areas. Further information on wardens is available from www.neighbourhood.gov.uk

Crime and disorder at transport interchanges can result in people feeling afraid to use services. Posting a presence can help avoid trouble and provide reassurance at peak times. Information on reducing crime and disorder relating to public transport is available from www.dft.gov.uk