Archived press release

Date Published: 11/06/07

Advice about a huge range of topics from anti-social behaviour and crime to domestic violence and drug misuse will be on offer during a community safety event in Aylesbury on 14 June. Representatives of the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partner...

Advice about a huge range of topics from anti-social behaviour and crime to domestic violence and drug misuse will be on offer during a community safety event in Aylesbury on 14 June.

Representatives of the Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership will be in the Civic Centre between 5pm and 9pm to talk to residents about how to make the local area safer and reduce crime.

The Partnership is keen to talk to as many people as possible about the work that is being done to cut crime and the fear of crime in Aylesbury Vale. Organisers also want to encourage residents to get involved in local community safety projects and bring improvements to their own streets and communities.  

There will be information about how the Partnership is tackling issues such as burglary, car crime, violence and anti-social behaviour. Residents will also have the opportunity to chat to various organisations, such as the district and county councils, the local police, the Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) and Women’s Aid, about community safety matters and initiatives. 

All members of the community, from any age, are welcome to attend the event. You can drop in at any point during the evening and light refreshments will be available.

The Partnership involves all the main agencies that have a role to play in reducing crime and disorder and improving community safety, including Aylesbury Vale District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and other agencies working in the area. Together they tackle issues that have a detrimental impact on residents’ quality of life.

Aylesbury Vale is one of the lowest crime areas within the Thames Valley area and the district’s crime levels are below the national average. Crime in Aylesbury Vale has fallen by 8.8 per cent over the past three years, according to the latest local crime statistics.

Figures show there was a total of 6,673 recorded offences in the district in 2006/7, compared with 7,315 in 2003/4. There were large reductions in theft of a motor vehicle, from 498 to 288 (42 per cent fall) and theft from a motor vehicle, which dropped from 1,565 to 963 (39 per cent). There was also a significant decrease in domestic burglaries, down 29 per cent from 2003/4.

The Partnership has supported a number of initiatives that have contributed to a decline in crime and disorder in the local area and has provided significant funds to tackle anti-social behaviour and drugs, as well as improve the condition of streets and public spaces.

Actions to improve community safety over the past year include:
• Improving the security of more than 100 properties across the district through AVDC’s Handyman Scheme
• Raising awareness of domestic violence through events such as White Ribbon Day and advertising helplines on supermarket receipts and on the back of car park tickets
• Sending letters to more than 10,000 vehicle owners to offer practical advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of car crime
• Handing out “cats’ bells” to shoppers to attach to their purses and wallets to help warn people if someone tries to steal their valuables.
• Introducing a patient pager scheme at Stoke Mandeville Hospital to help reduce incidents of abusive and violent behaviour towards staff
•  Trialling a revolutionary device known as the “Mosquito”, which emits a harmless high frequency noise that only people under 25 can hear, to disperse gangs of youths in areas that experience high levels of anti-social behaviour

The Partnership aims to reduce overall crime within the district by 15 per cent by 2008. To do this the Partnership will be focusing its work on reducing the high volume crimes, such as criminal damage, common assault and vehicle crime, which account for the majority of incidents in the district. It will also be looking to continue to support victims of crime and anti-social behaviour and proactively work with those people who are at risk of becoming criminals.

Superintendent Carole Haveron, Local Police Area Commander for Aylesbury Vale, speaking on behalf of the Community Safety Partnership, said: “This is an exciting new partnership event which aims to give residents the chance to learn about what is happening in their local area and meet representatives from the agencies delivering community safety initiatives. The best way of keeping the community safe is to involve those who live and work locally and this is an excellent way of providing not only practical advice, but also reassurance to local residents. We are absolutely committed to reducing the fear of crime and making Aylesbury Vale a safer place and I hope that many local residents take this opportunity to meet the Partnership and join us on 14 June.”

If you would like more information about the work of the Community Safety Partnership, please visit the community safety pages at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or www.buckscc.gov.uk

Alternatively you can call Kay Aitken on 01296 585005 or email kaitken@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk