Why this ambition is important for Bath and North East Somerset
Our Citizens’ Panel (local residents who are
regularly surveyed) has identified a low level of crime as the most
important thing which makes somewhere a good place to live.
Bath
& North East Somerset Council set up a Community Safety Partnership in
1997, ahead of many other areas. The Community Safety Strategy 2002-2005
aims to:
-
reduce
the amount of crime committed by the most persistent offenders;
-
reduce
crime and disorder related to alcohol and drug use;
-
reduce
the number of young people who commit crime, or are victims of
crime
-
provide
support for vulnerable communities;
-
reassure
our communities and reduce the fear of crime; and
-
promote
local action to make communities safer.
The Community Safety Partnership co-ordinates the work of the Partnership
Against Racial Harassment and the Partnership Against Domestic Violence,
as well as working closely with the Drug Action Team (DAT). The DAT, which
works to put the national anti-drug strategy into action, is currently
working to increase the number of people receiving prompt and effective
treatment for drug and alcohol problems.
Community safety action groups are being set up around the area. They aim
to identify local problems and find solutions. In some
neighbourhoods, community safety walkabouts are taking place to identify
improvements needed to reduce crime and fear of crime. Local communities
have identified the need to tackle antisocial behaviour, support victims,
and work to make local neighbourhoods better places to live. There are
also concerns about making sure nightlife (such as pubs and clubs), which
contributes to the area’s economy, is managed effectively and the effect
it has on local residents is kept to a minimum. The Bath Bar
Charter, a partnership between licensees, residents, the police, the
council and others, aims to improve the situation.
The Community Safety Partnership will take the lead in developing and
promoting initiatives to reduce crime and the fear of crime.
However, to succeed it will need our partners to promote safety issues in
their work.
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