Crime & Community Safety

Proposed aims:

• To create a safe neighbourhood where residents can enjoy safe streets, parks and public spaces and where the fear of crime is low;
• To use restorative justice as a means of tackling antisocial behaviour, reducing graffiti and reducing the incidences of crime;
• To improve our working relationship with Sussex Police, the fire service and other community safety partners to identify crime and community safety issues, confident that police and other service providers will respond appropriately.

Potential Partners: Sussex police, HEGLAT, BHCC EHL, BHCC Community Safety Team, identified Resident Groups, The Hyde Group, Brighton Youth Centre, Trust for Developing Communities, BHCC Field officers, 3GS enforcement & other civil enforcement services, ESFRS

To download the latest draft of this theme, click HERE

Resident Comments Received that have informed the Actions (from Engagement Events)

Understanding local crime and community safety issues:  Promote use of ‘Neighbourhood Alert’ Sussex police email information bulletin. Develop the local action team website to hold more community resources and information around crime and community safety.

Liaison with police: Seek periodic community conferences with Sussex police to discuss community safety and crime issues and enable the community to talk directly with frontline and senior officers and voice concerns. Seek a briefing from Sussex Police on the new Prevention teams’ model.

Drug issues: work with police to identify drug hotspots and act against drug dealing. Currently an issue around Hampden Rd, Wellington Rd, Islingword St & Firle Rd

Develop the Local Action Team: Assist the local action team in developing its role as a community voice around crime and safety issues, encourage residents to attend meetings and to volunteer their time to help the group operate.

Positive support for young people: Support the development of positive resources and activities for young people which may reduce the risk of them becoming victims of crime or involved in criminal activities. Table tennis table at community centre for young people. Outdoor activities e.g. horticulture/maintenance, sport/football

Promoting a ‘Don’t Walk By’ approach: taking a whole community responsibility to keeping Hanover & Elm Grove safe and well managed

Parking enforcement: Parking on Lewes Road blocking the cycle lane is a problem. School run parking around Elm Grove School also a problem and needs to be better policed. Parking enforcement action days – residents and police together.

Speeding vehicle hotspots: Need to treat speeding as a crime, not a social issue. Where are the problem spots/rat runs? Pankhurst Avenue seen as a problem area for speeding. Need to work with the police to see what action can be taken – community speed watch should be explored. Pankhurst Avenue and Freshfield Road need road safety measures to reduce speeding.

Support action to remove graffiti: Work with the council to obtain paint and ensure that graffiti is quickly removed and repainted to a good standard. Seek resources from the council proceeds of enforcement funds for this work. Use CCTV to detect/deter. Give advice to residents on how to tackle graffiti & look for creative solutions.

Support positive street art: Work with young people and artists to create street art pieces in the area to give them a voice and pride in their area. (Young people YAC & refugee groups such as Hummingbird)

Restorative Justice: Work with BHCC Restorative Practice officer & seek to deploy restorative practice to resolve criminal or antisocial behaviour and community tension and conflict, wherever possible.

Fire Safety:  Consider fire safety issues for the neighbourhood. Some houses do not have internal (attic) firewall so fire can travel between houses, and concern has been raised around communal bins as a fire risk as some in Hanover a very close to residential properties. Work with East Sussex Fire & Rescue service to identify fire risks and actions.

Noisy parties: Ask letting agents to place notices on properties with the landlord/agent details and to brief occupants of short term lets on local noise issues and avoiding loud parties late at night.

Pankhurst Neighbourhood Feedback

• Problems with groups of young people hanging out on corners which can be intimidating
• More Police/Community Support Officers to be present ***** (When May Road had their problems they were about but now they’re nowhere to be seen)
• Problems with motor bikes and scooters going up and down the road fast late at night – more Police patrols needed ********
• Problems with speeding on Pankhurst Ave – need speed bumps ****
• More parking enforcement **
• The 20 mph speed limit is never enforced and frequently abused. Bust drivers who speed with fines and points on license. Also educate about why the limit is in place