Anti-social behaviour plummets in ‘RESPECT’ areas

Anti-social behaviour reports have plummeted by 35 per cent as part of a highly successful campaign.

 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has today revealed that the number of reported incidents dropped dramatically from 17,000 in 2010 to 11,000 at the end of 2012.

 

The statistics relate to the 35 neighbourhoods that have benefited from the RESPECT initiative.

 

The scheme supports the city council's Mandate for Change by helping to make Stoke-on-Trent a great place to live.

 

It has tackled rowdy behaviour by linking into 'Street Games', taking young people off the streets and providing them with positive sporting activities.

 

It also looks at environmental issues, encouraging a sense of pride in the community by tidying up the area, removing litter, dog foul and larger items that have been discarded by fly tippers.

 

Skips are provided as part of the initiative so that residents can easily dispose of bulky household items free of charge. Overgrown trees and bushes are trimmed back and communal green areas are spruced up.

 

Staffordshire Police offers crime prevention advice and also hands out specialist equipment to vulnerable people and repeat victims.

 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (FARS) gives talks to the community and carries out home fire safety checks.

 

Councillor Janine Bridges, cabinet member for housing, neighbourhoods and community safety, said: "The RESPECT campaign has had a major impact on anti-social behaviour, dramatically reducing the number of incidents reported in communities across Stoke-on-Trent. Local residents are fully supportive of the initiative and feel a real sense of ownership during the sessions, giving up their own time to help with the clean-up. It is this sense of pride that has made the campaign so successful, leading to long term positive changes.

 

"A key part of our Mandate for Change is to make Stoke-on-Trent a great place to live and this initiative is helping us to achieve that aim. The results that the partnership project has yielded are really something to shout about."

 

Supt Laurie Whitby-Smith, based at Hanley, added: "Anti-social behaviour remains a top priority for Staffordshire Police and we continue to work with all our partners, including Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, to ensure any such issues are dealt with.

 

"The success of the Respect initiative in recent years proves that by working together we can positively tackle the issues that matter most to the communities we serve. We remain fully supportive and committed to the RESPECT campaign and together with our partners will continue to improve and empower communities, directing people away from anti-social behaviour and into positive activity.

"Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and we will take the appropriate action against those involved in it. Anyone who wishes to report anti-social behaviour should ring the non-emergency number 101 or speak direct to their local officer on patrol."

 

Donna Broadhead, FARS Prevention Manager, said: "We are keen supporters and participants of the RESPECT campaign as we are frequently called to unnecessary deliberate fires, such as discarded rubbish and other items which are then set fire to. By removing the fire risk it makes the environment safer right away and we also have the opportunity to carry out free home fire risk checks at the same time."

 

RESPECT is a joint scheme between Stoke-on-Trent City council, Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

 

Street pastors, Challenge North Staffordshire, Arch, Crime Prevention Panels and residents' associations also support the campaign.