Weeks of Action
The weeks of action campaigns have proven to make a
considerable difference to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour
in areas of the city that require such a focus.
The Home Office presented weeks of action to the
SaferPeterborough leadership as effective practice for reducing
crime and disorder. The first week of action took place in June
2007.
Case study - Welland Week of Action
The Welland estate was designed around 40 years ago by Brian
Ward following the American Radburn housing layout. This approach
aimed to have no defensible space and to separate cars from
housing, resulting in the majority of houses being accessible to
the front only by footpaths, creating poor surveillance,
particularly over car parking at the rear. Green spaces were also a
key feature of this design as are footpaths and alleyways linking
streets, many of which can be dark and secluded and give rise to
anti-social behaviour.
Activities during the week
Two events held at the Acorn Centre provided a range of
information and advice. Partners exhibiting included:
- Peterborough and Stamford NHS Hospital Trust
- PCT Health Promotion Team / Patient Advice & Liaison
Service
- Salvation Army / Good Neighbour’s Scheme
- Job Centre Plus
- Peterborough College of Adult Education
- Peterborough City Council’s Young People’s Service
- Cross Keys Homes
- Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Trading Standards
- Peterborough Regional College
Inter-agency door-knocking survey
Previous Weeks of Actions included door-to-door visits with the
purpose of issuing SmartWater and the opportunity to have a fire
safety check and free smoke alarm.
This exercise developed into an inter-agency door knocking
activity designed to establish community concerns / needs and
levels of interest in becoming involved with activities that enable
people to have an influence in their neighbourhood. The activity
was promoted to partners as being a truly sustainable activity that
embraces the true principles of Neighbourhood Management.
Monitoring and evaluation
The following was achieved during the Welland week of
action:
- 70 fly-tipping incidents removed
- 238 graffiti tags removed
- 6.5 tonnes of rubbish removed
- 23 bins reclaimed (previously reported stolen)
- 2 enforcement notices issued for residents’ gardens
- 1 untaxed vehicle removed
- 10 arrests made
- 98 new e-cops members signed up
- 4 new Neighbourhood Watch schemes
- 382 houses issued with SmartWater
- All houses visited and 485 residents spoken to (51%)
- 20 SmartWater signs erected in the area
- More than 100 adults 40 children and young people accessed the
Salvation Army’s cream tea afternoon at the Acorn Centre
- Publicity and information material delivered directly to
approximately 1,200 properties in the neighbourhood
Resident feedback
A number of residents completed ‘fear of crime’ surveys before
and after the Week of Action. The return was 153 surveys - 101
completed before the week and 52 completed after. The results
identified a lower proportion of respondents had a high fear of
crime following the Week of Action. After the week the proportion
of respondents feeling ‘very worried’ about having their car stolen
fell from 35.6% to 17.3%. When asked ‘Has the week of action made a
difference to your area?’ the majority of those who responded
answered ‘yes’.
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