New safety partnership launched

Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is the new name for the borough's Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

 
Representatives from organisations which form Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership - front row left to right: Chief Inspector Sue Jameson, Valerie Kane, the council's Community Safety Officer, and Brenda Griffiths from Hertfordshire Police Authority 

The partnership still comprises Hertsmere Borough Council, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and other organisations and will continue to work to keep Hertsmere a safe place to live.

When partnerships between local councils, police and other organisations were first officially launched under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, individual partnerships could choose to be called a CDRP or a CSP.  However, new guidance from the Home Office encourages the use of the term CSP.

Valerie Kane, Hertsmere Borough Council's Community Safety Officer, explained: "The term CSP is more widely used in Hertfordshire so it makes sense for us to use it too for consistency across the county.

"Crime is relatively low in Hertsmere and overall it is steadily falling and we will continue to work in partnership to keep the borough a safe place to live, work and visit."

Last year the partnership initiated and got involved with a number of projects including:

• Dog Watch and Off Watch schemes, which are similar to Neighbourhood Watch, and a Horse Watch is due to be launched in May
• working with pupils to discourage drivers from speeding outside schools
• Environmental Action Days, Spotlight events and visual audits which tackle environmental crimes such as graffiti and flytipping
• community payback whereby local offenders carry out tasks to improve the local area such as litter picking and removing flytips
• PL8 SAF3 events which resulted in 400 vehicles being fitted with theft-resistant number plate screws.

Hertsmere's Crime Reduction Groups (CRGs) will also be renamed Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs).  These groups operate in Borehamwood, Bushey, Potters Bar, Radlett and Shenley and are open to any local resident or interested party.  Public meetings take place four times a year in each local area and topics include anti-social behaviour, local crime figures, fire safety and issues of local concern.  Each group is allocated £1,000 a year to spend on projects that reduce crime and improve community safety in that area.

Valerie Kane added: "Local CSPs are an opportunity for people to get involved and make a difference in their local area so please come along, we welcome your views and support."

The following organisations form Hertsmere CSP: Hertsmere Borough Council, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire Police Authority, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Probation Trust, NHS Hertfordshire and Affinity Sutton Housing Association.

The CSP organises lots of events and projects throughout the year to help reduce crime and make people feel safer - to find out more about the CSP contact Hertsmere Borough Council on 020 8207 7801 or email partnership.support@hertsmere.gov.uk

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