CRIME may have fallen drastically over the last few years, but a new plan in Kirklees aims to bring it down even more.
Crime in Kirklees overall has fallen by a quarter in the last four years, from 53,094 recorded incidents in 2003 to 39,795 in 2007.
The Kirklees Safer Stronger Communities Partnership Plan 2008-2011 sets out proposals to improve people’s quality of life and enable them to feel safer.
Kirklees Council, the police and other local organisations are working together to build on schemes laid down during the last four years.
Police often team up with council departments for short, sharp two-day or week-long anti-crime and grot spot clear-ups in specific areas.
This is known as the Kirklees Focus scheme.
Across Kirklees burglary has decreased by 36%, from 4,661 incidents to 2,960; vehicle crime has fallen by 44%, from 8,926 to 5,028; and violent crime is down 13%, from 9,228 incidents to 8,062.
Fear of crime has also gone down.
A crime survey in Kirklees last year led to 86% of people saying they felt safe in their local neighbourhoods.
Partnership chairman Clr Khizar Iqbal said: “Agencies are tackling crime in partnership to make Kirklees a safer place to live and work and to build strong communities.
“We have secured some very encouraging successes, but we are not complacent.
“Over the next three years we will build on the positive work already achieved. We will continue to tackle crime, substance misuse and anti-social behaviour, work with communities to identify and resolve potential tensions and ensure residents have their say in solving neighbourhood problems.”
Priorities for 2008 to 2011 cover six main areas:
Reducing crime, anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime
Cutting substance misuse.
Reducing re-offending
Improving people’s satisfaction with their local area
Identifying and responding to hate incidents and community tensions
Involving residents and the voluntary sector more in solutions to neighbourhood concerns.
Chief Insp Vince Firth, community safety co-ordinator for Kirklees, said: “I am encouraged by the figures we have seen over the last four years.
“However, it is now upon us all to continue to work together and carry on this trend.
“As we have already seen, by working with our partners we can reduce crime and the fear of crime, making a difference to the quality of life for people in our various communities.”
