Two award winning teams targeting alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour, including youth workers who took to the streets to educate young people about the dangers of drinking, have been praised by Home Office Minister Alan Campbell.
Corby Jam Team
Corby Jam Team have helped raise awareness of the dangers of alcohol misuse, and successfully reduced anti-social behaviour in the area.
They used ‘beer goggles’ to simulate the effects of being drunk, life-sized cut outs of body parts to show the effects of alcohol on the body, and delivered interactive sessions on the streets and places where young people gather.
The team was set up in 2006 by Ann-Marie Lawson, Youth Programme Manager Groundwork North Northants, and Sergeant Julie Mead of Northamptonshire police in partnership with Corby Borough Council after concerns were raised about the level of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the town.
Their efforts resulted in a reduction in the number of anti-social behaviour incidents recorded by police, and led to the project winning a Home Office Tilley Award for crime reduction in 2009. During a visit to Corby Mr Campbell met the team, and the young people they have helped, to find out more about the innovative methods they used.
Mr Campbell also visited West Glebe Park, winners of Corby Borough Council‘s Best Community Project 2009, to see how regeneration work to redevelop the park for sport and recreational use has made the area much safer.
Statement from the Home Office Minister
Alan Campbell said, 'We are determined to tackle the harms caused by alcohol fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour which can have a devastating effect on local communities.
'By providing positive activities and a safer environment for local people West Glebe Park and Corby Jam projects are good examples of how partnership working can really make a difference to the local area.'
Statement from the Leader of Corby Borough Council
Councillor Pat Fawcett, said, 'We are very pleased to welcome Alan Campbell to Corby and have the opportunity to highlight just some of the initiatives we are using to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough.
'We work very closely with the police and other partners including youngsters, parents and pubs to tackle alcohol related crime and we are definitely seeing results.
'Over the last six years there has been a 40 per-cent overall reduction in crime and in our last Place Survey (2009) nearly 30 per-cent of residents said that they felt that the Police and local Council understand local concerns about crime, which is the highest figure in Northamptonshire and above the national average. We are determined to keep this trend going and look forward to working with partners on further initiatives.'
Statement from the Youth Programme Manager Groundwork North Northants
Ann-Marie Lawson said,' Corby Jam Team use informal education to encourage young people to think about the consequences of their behaviour. Many young people have been involved in a variety of community initiatives that have helped to improve perceptions between generations.
'The young people want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem in terms of anti-social behaviour. I am extremely proud of all they have achieved and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.'
Notes to editors
Read information about the Corby Jam Tilley award project.
Read information about West Glebe Park project. on the Corby Borough Council website.
Corby received £30,000 from the Home Office in 2009 to support the partnership’s work in reducing alcohol related crime and disorder in the night time economy and other meeting places. This was part of the Home Office’s £1.5m Partnership Support Campaign.
For more information contact the Home Office Press Office 020 7035 3535.
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