Working for a safer St Albans District

Residents, community groups and businesses are asked for their views on how crime prevention in the St Albans District can be improved.

A public consultation to shape a detailed plan for making the area a safer place to live and work has started.

Among the topics that can be raised are antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, burglary, knife crime and street drinking.

The consultation, which runs from tomorrow until Saturday 29 February is intended to help the St Albans Community Safety Partnership (CSP) complete its strategy for the coming year.

Anyone wanting to take part should fill in an online questionnaire at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JMZ3P6H.

A copy of the proposed strategy is also available to view at the Crime and Anti-Social behaviour section of our website.

The CSP is an umbrella group of agencies that work together to reduce crime in the District.

Members include St Albans City and District Council, Hertfordshire Constabulary, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and various voluntary organisations. 
  
It consults annually with residents and local groups to identify its strategic aims and priorities. The five proposed priorities for 2020/21 are to:

• Establish an effective response to violent crime including knife crime, gangs, drug dealing, robbery and criminal exploitation.
• Focus on possession crime including burglary, motor vehicle crime, cybercrime, scams and rogue trading.
• Assist landowners, businesses and the community by tackling rural and heritage issues such as flytipping, antisocial behaviour, road safety and wildlife crime.
• Support victims of domestic abuse by tackling perpetrators, raising awareness and educating people about healthy relationships and personal safety.
• Promote physical and mental wellbeing for all by tackling hate crime, alcohol and drug misuse, homelessness and street drinking and by assisting vulnerable people, both at home and in the community.

Councillor Jacqui Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Inclusion and Protection, said:

St Albans District is fortunate to have relatively low crime levels, but we cannot take this for granted.

The Community Safety Partnership wants to win the battle against crime and respond effectively to the needs of the people who live and work here.

To do so, we need to hear their views on how we can improve and where our priorities should lie. By completing the questionnaire, people can shape the community safety plans for the District in the coming year.

St Albans Chief Inspector Lynda Coates of Hertfordshire Constabulary said:

This survey will give us important feedback that can help influence our priorities for the year ahead.

I’d encourage residents to spend a few minutes giving us their views about crime and antisocial behaviour in the District and suggest ways that we can effectively tackle those issues.

A paper form of the survey with a pre-paid reply envelope are available from Carol Almond on 01727 819538

For more information about the Council’s community safety work, please see crime and anti-social behaviour section or our website.

Councillor contact:
Councillor Jacqui Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Inclusion and Protection: cllr.j.taylor@stalbans.gov.uk, 07971 906343.

Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.