Community Safety Strategy
Executive Summary
This is the first Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership Strategic Assessment, completed in line with the Crime & Disorder Act review requirements. The purpose of this assessment is to provide the Community Safety Partnership with a detailed summary of key threats/issues that Hyndburn faces over the next two years, and will provide evidence and justification for strategic decision-making, particularly in respect of identifying community priorities.
Crime & Disorder
Criminal Damage
Damage accounts for a substantial proportion of the volume crime within Hyndburn which heavily influences the status of the PSA1 targets. The most problematic form of damage within Hyndburn is damage to vehicles which is arguably the most difficult type to target.
Vehicle Crime
Vehicle crime has shown an increase from 2003/4 however over the past 12 months there have been fluctuating levels of crime with no significant trend in either direction. The main problem identified has been vehicles being attacked whilst parked on the road and due to the make up of the borough in relation to the high volume of terraced housing.
Violent Crime
One of the main high volume offences in Hyndburn is violent crime; the level of violent crime has a large impact on the district’s PSA1 targets. It has been noted that alcohol is a key contributory factor in violent crime, with the hotspot location being the town centre areas containing a high concentration of licensed premises. Although the figures for Domestic Violence do not show this to be a large scale problem it is known that there is a great under reporting of this type of offence to authorities.
Substance Misuse
Drugs
The links between drug use and crime are clearly recognised. Hyndburn has a mixture of open and closed markets that supply a range of drugs. The main class 'A' drugs within the borough are Heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine with the majority being sourced from Merseyside, West Yorkshire and Manchester. There is little sign of change in the type of drugs being used in the area.
Alcohol
The levels of binge drinking and alcohol related hospital admissions for young people in Hyndburn are currently at a higher rate than the England average, and are the highest in East Lancashire. A contributory factor in most criminal behaviour is alcohol.
Anti Social Behaviour (ASB)
ASB is one of the biggest safety concerns for the community and can have a huge impact on peoples' lives. The main issues raised by members of the community within Hyndburn are; juvenile nuisance and litter. Alcohol is thought to be a key contributory factor in relation to the juvenile nuisance being caused within the district. The Partnership has looked at various means of tackling youth ASB including diversionary activities and dispersal orders. There is currently an ASB case management co-ordinator in post who is working with partners to formulate a robust system for monitoring such cases.
Quality of Life Issues
Domestic Fire Safety
Fire safety continues to be an area of concern for the community. Fires within the borough cover the whole spectrum from rubbish fires particularly associated with bonfire night to house fires with fatal consequences. An area of concern is the increase in the number of secondary or rubbish fires particularly in back alleys of terraced properties which could lead to more serious fires.
Environmental Issues
Studies have shown that the state of the local environment can have an impact on people's lives this is no less a problem for the local community whose main concerns continue to be fly tipping, dog fouling, litter & graffiti. The Partnership will continue to listen to these concerns by tackling these issues through joint working.
Community Cohesion
Whilst Hyndburn has not suffered the same degree of community tensions and disturbances as in Blackburn and Burnley we are continuing to engage with the local communities addressing their concerns to ensure that this remains the case. With the influx of migrant workers predominantly from Eastern Europe, there continues to be an increase in new diverse communities. At present there are no reported issues in relation to community tensions from the new members of the community living locally.
For the full document, please download here.
- Strategy Assessment, April 2008 - March 2009 (file size = 218kb)
Previous Crime Audits
- Executive Summary of Crime & Disorder Audit 2004 (File size = 980 kb)
- Crime & Disorder Audit 2004 (File size = 4.39 mb)
If you require further information regarding the Community Safety Partnership, Audit or Strategy please contact:
Davina Helm,
Community Safety Manager on 01254 380995
or via e-mail at:- davina.helm@hyndburnbc.gov.uk