Community safety work is rewarded
GREAT work to improve community safety in Charnwood has been highlighted at an awards ceremony.
Charnwood Community Safety Partnership was a finalist in the Safer Community Celebration Awards, organised by the Police Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire, Lord Willy Bach.
Local police inspector Mark Botte also picked up the Visible Policing Award.
Coun Deborah Taylor, lead member for communities at Charnwood and chair of the Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, said the awards were a great way to highlight the great work taking place to make communities safer across the county.
Coun Taylor said: “I am really pleased the partnership took part in these awards and it reflects the many successes we have had in reducing crime in the borough.
“The council and a number of agencies and organisations are working really hard with Leicestershire Police to tackle crime and that work is paying off.
“The Charnwood Neighbourhood Policing Area team are really committed to helping our residents and the
Council and other partners appreciate the work they do.
“We know there is still a lot of work to be done but it is pleasing to see a reduction in crime in the borough and we will continue to work together, as a partnership and with communities, to make Charnwood a safer place to live, work and visit.
“I’d also like to congratulate Mark for picking up his award who along with his team are real assets to the borough.”
Insp Mark Botte, Charnwood Neighbourhood Policing Area commander, said: “I am extremely proud of all the officers at Charnwood who have contributed to this success as well as paying tribute to specialist departments and partners who have been supporting us.
“I am committed to making Charnwood a safe place where residents have confidence in the local police. Charnwood Borough Council have been key to the work we do and I would like to publicly thank them for their support.”
The partnership says good results have been achieved thanks to greater partnership working. Examples include the implementation of a drug strategy to identity and assist people at risk of drug abuse and working with local schools and agencies to identify young people at risk of reoffending or harm and putting steps in place to mitigate the risk and support them.
Police have also carried out Operation Lionheart to tackle County Lines activity in the borough and promoted Neighbourhood Link, a community messaging service.
According to the latest figures, the total number of crimes in Charnwood was down seven per cent in 2019 to 9,590 incidents compared to 2018. The figures showed:
• Burglaries of homes were down 25
per cent to 638 incidents while burglaries at businesses were down 40 per cent to 163 incidents
• Theft from vehicles was down 19
per cent to 710 incidents while shoplifting was down 31 per cent to 627 incidents
• Cycle theft was also down 34 per
cent to 214 incidents while robbery was down 12 per cent to 66 incidents
• Violent attacks with injury were up
five per cent to 746 incidents and theft of vehicles rose two per cent to 270 incidents
For more information about community safety in Charnwood, please visit https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/ pages/safety or follow @SaferCharnwood on Twitter.