Reduce Crime

Overall crime has fallen by around a third since 1997 and, in contrast to the impression given by media reporting, the chances of becoming a victim of crime remain at historically low levels. Locally, since we published our last Safer Communities Strategy, the Partnership has made significant progress in reducing the types of crime that affect communities the most. There is still much to do, however, as emerging, different crime types bring about new challenges and criminals innovate as quickly as those of us engaged in legitimate business.

Our priorities for 2008-2011

• Working with Council partners, local people and businesses to help them to design out crime in the local environment, in their neighbourhood and at business, retail and leisure premises across the Borough. This will be particularly important in the next few years to support the anticipated large-scale development arising from regeneration of Rochdale and Middleton town centres, Kingsway Business Park, the HMR projects in areas such as Kirkholt and East Central Rochdale, and the Building Schools for the Future programme.
• Continuing to develop the effectiveness of the Tactical PBG in identifying and responding to emerging crime trends and threats throughout the Borough.
• Continuing to improve the range and quality of intelligence and analytical products available to support the Partnership in prioritising activity and directing resources.
• Extending the Alleygating Programme to as many appropriate locations as possible through the Borough.
• Continuing to develop an effective multi-agency risk assessment and support model to respond to the needs of domestic violence victims, particularly those experiencing high levels of repeat victimisation.
• Further work in communities to raise awareness of the dangers and harm caused by deliberate fire setting and by anti-social behaviour towards fire officers carrying out their duties.
• Working to ensure that the progress made in reducing serious violent crimes continues and, in light of nationally reported increases in crimes involving weapons (knives, guns, etc), implementing relevant directives contained in the Government’s Violent Crime Action Plan when published in 2008.

Our targets

• Reduce the level of serious violent crimes (NI 15) – these include murder, attempted murder, serious wounding, death by dangerous driving and causing death by aggravated vehicle taking.
• Reduce the level of serious acquisitive crime (NI 16) – these include domestic burglary / aggravated burglary, personal or business robbery, theft or taking of a vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking and theft from a vehicle.
• Reduce the number of assaults with less serious injury (NI 20).
• To reduce the number of firearms offences recorded in the Borough (NI 29).
• To reduce the number of serious violent offences involving the use of knives or other sharp instruments (NI 28).