Action doesn't end here!

The decision to organise the week was taken by Bolsover Community Safety Partnership - whose members include the Police, Fire & Rescue, Bolsover District Council, the PCT, Derbyshire County Council and the Probation Service – after a survey in the area revealed over 70% of respondents felt that they were either “not very well informed” or “not well informed at all” about what is being done in their community to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The survey was used to help shape the type of activities highlighted during the week and the way residents were informed about them.

With teenagers and lack of things for them to do among the key concerns expressed by residents in the survey, the week included tasters of activities already available and the showcasing of some planned for the coming months.

Young people were also given the opportunity to help paint a new youth centre which opened its doors for the first time during the week. Having chosen the name “Loco” for the Derbyshire County Council Youth Services facility on Langwith Road, they then painted this graffiti-style on the interior walls with the help of a professional artist.

CAN Rangers and Community Payback joined forces for a clean up in the town centre and Brunner Avenue and Rainbow Park areas. It is hoped that the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices for two cases of dog fouling and two for littering will help convey the message that this form of anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

A multi-agency Crime Cracking day in the Market Square attracted over 300 people to chat with the Partnership support team, Police Safer Neighbourhood Team, Fire & Rescue staff who brought their smoke tent, and DCC Trading Standards Officers.
 
Additional ASB patrols, funded by the Community Safety Partnership, were carried out by Police. During these, eight youngsters were stopped and spoken to by officers and two had alcohol taken from them; a suspect was issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) after a public order incident on York Road; a Section 27 Direction to Leave was issued to a female adult after she was abusive to staff in a town pub; and two juvenile males arrested for burglary admitted the offence and have received a caution and reprimand.

Commenting on the Week of Highlighted Action, Partnership Sgt Paul Smith said: “We selected a range of existing and on-going work that is carried out in Shirebrook by members of the Partnership for the week of Action and we really hope it has raised awareness of the services and facilities available.

“We certainly received some very positive feedback during the week.”

Bolsover Community Safety Partnership plans to issue a follow-up survey in Shirebrook to help assess how successful the week has been.

Chair of the Partnership, Cllr Brian Murray-Carr, said: “We are very pleased with the attendances we had at stalls and events during the week and we hope people in Shirebrook now have a clearer picture of the work that goes on in their area, particularly with regard to anti-social behaviour.”

ENDS                                                                                     

Release date: June 14, 2010