Programme 2008-2010

Security

Establish a safe and secure town centre environment for all who use it, and all business and property owners.

Achievements

A

SSP capital grant was successfully bid for in Spring 2006 to enhance the town centre Radio Link scheme, and the Mansfield Safer Business Partnership was established, reporting to the Town Centre Partnership’s Security Working Group.

B

A Business Crime Co-ordinator was appointed in July 06 with year 1 costs underwritten by Police and CDRP. Revenue from leasing equipment to businesses now fully funds this post, which reports to the Town Centre Manager.

C

Mansfield Safer Business Partnership has over 80 businesses on the scheme. Monthly meetings are held with photos of known offenders distributed to members of the scheme, who have signed up to data protection and information sharing protocols.

D

The Town Centre Police ‘Neighbourhood’ team has been established and in addition to the Police, involves the District Council’s Enviro Crime Officers, Stores’ security staff, and the Business Crime Coordinator. Weekly intelligence sharing briefings are held.

E

The Mansfield Safer Business Partnership achieved the Home Office’s Action Against Business Crime, Safer Business Award, - national accreditation gained Spring 2007.

F

The Mansfield Safer Business Partnership received the runner up ‘Highly Commended’ award in Action Against Business Crime’s Promoting Public Safety awards in March 2008.

G

A Purse Bell campaign and Poster competition ran in Spring and November 2007, sponsored by Four Seasons.

H

Guidance on smoking shelters was produced and made available on MDC website prior to the implementation of the national smoking ban.

I

External funding was granted for Headcams (overt cameras for patrolling officers).

J

External funding was granted for the installation of loud speakers to some town centre CCTV cameras in summer 2007.

K

ACPO Safer Parking Park Mark accreditation has been achieved in a total of 12 car park now accredited – more than found in many large cities.

L

A pioneering Car Cruise ban for the county of Nottinghamshire was obtained by Notts Police in June 2007 for 2 years.

M

Smartwater kits enabling valuable property to be marked for identification, were distributed in outlets in the town centre, market place and Four Seasons in the run up to Xmas 2007.

N

A voluntary Second Hand Dealer (Retailers) code of practise was developed March 2007, to reduce the re-selling of stolen goods.

O

The ‘Heart of Mansfield’ voluntary fund was launched in July 06 whereby some licensed premises fund additional Policing, roaming door security and mobile phones for evening economy businesses.

P

A regular programme has been implemented for under age Test Purchases in pubs, clubs, off-licences.

Q

Planning Policy - a Saturation Zone in the town centre was introduced in Dec 2007 which means that applications for licensed premises are not automatically granted.

R

Additional Police resources have been allocated to reduce alcohol related violence, including a regular evening weekend special Operation Abridge.

S

Town Centre Crime figures April 2007 - March 2008 were the lowest for ten years, and shoptheft was the lowest since 1994/5.

Current Projects

T

General Town Centre Safer Neighbourhood projects include:

• Maintain appropriate number of Police officers dedicated to the town centre.
• Create a Neighbourhood Action Plan aligned to the Government, CDRP, LAA, and Policing priorities.
• Reduce fear of crime by a positive marketing message about security improvements.
• Improve links with Magistrates and Crown Prosecution Service.
• Accreditation of Enviro Crime Wardens.
• Balance the security demands of the town centre’s daytime and night time economies.
• Explore feasibility of a Neighbourhood Police contact point (premises) in the town centre.
• Explore feasibility of participating in the national Purple Flag scheme to accredit the town centre evening environment.

U

Projects to reduce Business/Retail Crime include:

• Manage the Mansfield Safer Business Partnership and increase the number of businesses participating.
• Maintain funding for the post of Business Crime Coordinator.
• Gather, collate, and distribute intelligence to identify local and travelling criminals.
• Achievement of ‘Safer Business Award’ re-accreditation.
• Multi agency approach to ASBO’s to exclude persistent offenders.
• Update of Emergency Planning Procedures, including town centre evacuation.
• Update of multi agency approach to truancy in the town centre.
• Launch of Shoppers Charter for Markets and Town Centre Second Hand Dealers (retail) voluntary code of practice.

V

Projects linked to the District’s Crime & Disorder strategy to reduce Violence in the town centre, include:

• Adopt the CDRP* and DAAT* Action plan to reduce drug and alcohol-related violence.
• Introduce a Designated Public Places Order for the town centre to control outdoor drinking.
• Introduce the Safer Socialising Award for licensed venues.
• Progress evening alley closure/ gating orders where appropriate.
• Develop a managed, legitimate means for evening economy advertising.
• Review all pavement café licences.
• Use evening footfall counters to establish scale of activity.

W

Projects linked to the District’s Crime & Disorder strategy to reduce Anti-social Behaviour and Criminal Damage include:

• Enviro Crime Wardens to work with Police to target persistent offenders.
• Enviro Crime Wardens to issue fixed penalty notices for litter offences.
• Continue to hold regular multi agency intelligence briefings.
• Graffiti database of Tags to be maintained by Police and MDC.
• Address dangerous cycling/skateboarding in the town centre.
• High visibility patrols in risk areas, as identified in weekly briefing meetings.
• Action to enforce against persistent ‘boy racer’ problems.

X

Projects linked to the District’s Crime & Disorder strategy to reduce Theft from Vehicles, include:

• Seek funding for car parks to maintain ‘Park Mark’ standard.
• Work with private car park owners to encourage good quality, secure facilities.
• Implement minimum quality standards for temporary car parks via planning conditions.

Y

Projects linked to the District’s Crime & Disorder strategy to reduce Commercial Burglary, include:

• Identify new build properties and conduct crime reduction survey during architects liaison phase, attaching planning conditions where appropriate.
• Identify hot spots and introduce short term crime reduction initiatives.

Future Projects

Z

Continue to work with Mansfield Partnership Against Crime to develop and promote town centre security and community safety initiatives, and implement the Crime and Disorder Strategy relating to the town centre.

Z1

Support the development of the town centre CCTV system.

Z2

Explore feasibility of expanding current initiatives to work with town centres in Ashfield.