Partnership is the key in tackling anti-social behaviour in Weymouth
An award-winning partnership set up in Weymouth to tackle street-based anti-social behaviour (ASB) by targeting the root causes is celebrating running for five years.
The Safer Street Partnership works by identifying those committing street-based ASB and providing them with support to change their behaviour from a range of partners including: Dorset Council Community Safety Team, The Bus Shelter, REACH, Lantern Trust Housing Team, Shelter and Julian House.
The support aims to target what is driving the person to commit ASB. If they do not engage or their behaviour does not improve then there is a set enforcement pathway, which escalates quickly. The ethos of the programme is Engage, Educate and Enforce.
The partnership meets every week to review who has been causing anti-social behaviour and to consider if they should be included in the Safer Streets Pathway. The group is able to track a person’s behaviour week to week to ensure progress toward improvement.
In the five years Safer Streets has been running, over 190 individuals have been referred into the programme. The vast majority of referrals improve at the first engagement.
Sam Goom, Inspector for Weymouth and Portland Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Over the last five years reported anti-social behaviour in the town centre has reduced by over 40 per cent. The Safer Street Partnership is an integral part of that success. Our collaborative effort to tackle street-based ASB has made a huge difference – our partners work extremely hard to find long term solutions. They are a great bunch, and I am thankful for their continued commitment. There is always more to do but definite progress is being made.”
Mike Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Lantern Trust, said: “When the Lantern was first approached to help create Safer Streets, we understood the need to work in collaboration. All of our services work to support people at the earliest opportunity and are able to support with all areas of our customers lives. With the right support, we believe that all of our customers can thrive. The collaboration has led the way and shown that by supporting people at the earliest possibility, we can ensure that ASB is reduced. Safer Streets has further demonstrated that partnership is the only way and a project that keeps our communities safe.”
Cllr Gill Taylor, Dorset Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Housing, said: “Effective reduction of anti-social behaviour requires a collaborative approach. The Safer Street Partnership addresses anti-social behaviour and its root causes. Working with our partners we can offer tailored and continuous support for individuals which means our interventions are often effective and sustainable.”
Cllr Jon Orrell, Mayor of Weymouth, said: “Partnership working delivers far reaching benefits to the most vulnerable members of our communities, whilst also helping residents. The town benefits from joined up teamwork, and it’s good to see how much has been achieved over the last five years. Well done to all involved in this ongoing work.”