PCC hosts webinar to reflect on Norfolk's successful delivery of the Government's Safer Streets Summer Initiative

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) launched ‘Safer Norfolk’ as part of the Government’s ‘Safer Streets Summer Initiative’ (SSSI), which ran from July to the end of September.

The Government launched their ‘Safer Streets Summer Initiative’ with a focus on preventing crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) in town centres, ensuring meaningful consequences for those responsible for crime and ASB, and increasing the overall visibility of not only police, but various organisations and services that contribute to the safety of the general public.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCCN) hosted a ‘Safer Norfolk’ webinar at the end of September to reflect on the success of the campaign with contributing partners and businesses in Norfolk.

At the start of the campaign, the OPCCN worked with the Home Office to identify areas affected most by ASB issues, supported by data. The areas identified were:

• Norwich
  

  Targeted Youth Support Services team

• King’s Lynn
• Great Yarmouth
• Thetford
• Diss
• Cromer
• Gorleston-on-Sea
• Downham Market
• Dereham
• Sheringham
• Holt

Working with a range of partners, the OPCCN pulled together a plan for each of the areas to best address the issues they individually face.

Across the summer, the OPCCN has been working extensively with organisations including Norfolk Constabulary, Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council, Chantry Place and more, who have all been instrumental in the overall success of the campaign.

Notable key work that took place through ‘Safer Norfolk’ during the SSSI period included:

• Targeted ASB interventions across Norfolk’s ‘Safer Norfolk’ areas, including the effective use of public space protection orders, community protection warnings and community protection notices, and also dispersal notices.
• Multi-agency approach to vehicle-related ASB tackled via patrols and enforcement.
• Over 1,200 hours of high-visibility patrols by Norfolk Constabulary.
• Community outreach events, youth engagement, and school visits undertaken by a range of partners.
• Collaborative work between police, local councils, Business Improvement District teams, Targeted Youth Support Service, drug and alcohol services, local voluntary organisations and NHS Integrated Care Board.
• Summer programmes and safeguarding interventions/initiatives delivered to vulnerable children and young people.

If you would like to learn more detail about the vast amount of fantastic work that took place through ‘Safer Norfolk’, you can watch the webinar 

Sarah Taylor, Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, said: “It has been an incredibly busy summer, and I’m so pleased that, together with key partners, a campaign has been delivered, full of fantastic work that was recognised by the Home Office.

“This campaign work has made a clear difference but I’m not complacent and will continue to build upon the lessons and learnings as the safety of those living, working and visiting Norfolk is of the upmost importance.”