Manchester's work to cut crime was showcased today when the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, visited Little Hulton to see how police partnership agencies and local people are working together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Mr Blunkett, who was joined by policing Minister Hazel Blears, met community wardens and local residents to learn how CCTV cameras and an increased police presence have reduced crime and transformed the area.
Little Hulton in Salford became a Policing Priority Area (PPA) in May 2003 and the Home Secretary today announced extra funding of £12,500 to extend the project for a further six months, which should see crime in the area fall further.
New crime busting measures already introduced include:
Mr Blunkett said:
"As part of our police reform programme, we have seen communities becoming more involved in how their police service operates. Crime overall has fallen and there are more police officers than ever before. But I want to see deeper, stronger connections developing between police and communities across the country.
"Little Hulton is an excellent example of what can be achieved when communities, police, local authorities, the voluntary sector, drug action teams and crime and disorder reduction partnerships work together to tackle an area's specific problems.
"Public confidence in Little Hulton has been boosted as residents see an increased police presence and a decrease in crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. Local residents now know that their voices are being heard by their local Force and the relationships that are being built between residents and police are very positive.
"By extending the project by another 6 months, the Government is ensuring that the good work being done in Little Hulton continues, enabling a further boost to relations and further targeted crime reduction measures."
Chief Inspector Jon Faulkner, Salford Policing Priority Area project manager said:
"Our project has enabled partner agencies and the community to work very closely together in such a way that we are better able to overcome issues that would normally delay or prevent progress in crime reduction work."
"The relationships we now have are extremely strong and I am sure they will continue long after the PPA project comes to an end. I am confident that this way of working will become the model for other areas in Salford and Greater Manchester and will lead to sustainable crime reduction."
The Home Secretary also announced today that fourteen new PPAs are to be created across the country with a £700,000 Government cash boost.
Notes to Editors
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Salford, Greater Manchester
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Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
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Hastings, Sussex
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Easington, Durham
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Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
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Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
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Smethwick, West Midlands
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Chapeltown, Leeds
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Penywaun, South Wales
3. Completed PPA's include Bradford, Southwark and Bristol and Rhyl.
4. The Home Secretary announced the first phase of Policing Priority Areas (PPAs) on 11 March 2002 (Home Office press notice 067/2002). Bob Ainsworth, then Home Office Minister announced the second phase on 31 March 2003 (Home Office press notice 092/2003). A third phase was announced on 22 October 2003 by Hazel Blears.
5. The fourteen new PPA sites approved today are:
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Bedfordshire – Luton
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Cleveland – Hartlepool
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Cumbria – Barrow-in-Furness
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Derbyshire – Derby
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Dorset – Bournemouth
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GMP – Bolton
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Hampshire – Havant
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Humberside – South Crosby, Scunthorpe
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Norfolk – Miles Cross
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Nottinghamshire – Harworth
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South Yorkshire - Sheffield, Sharrow
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Suffolk – Ipswich
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Thames Valley – Slough
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Warwickshire – NW Nuneaton
6. There is a rigorous and objective selection process which takes into account the individual characteristics of the various sites and, as of the fourth phase, includes an element of self-selection by participating forces.
7. PPAs are closely defined areas, which can be estates or streets, which could benefit from support in developing effective local partnerships to tackle fear of crime and anti-social behaviour.
8. The Police Standards Unit will provide £50,000 start up costs per area and limited additional funding for specific purposes will be available. The Police Standards Unit will also offer support, monitor performance and enhance effective policing and partnership working identified through good practice elsewhere.
9. Home Office will be part funding a six-month extension of the Salford Policing Priority Area. Both the Home Office and Government Office North West will be providing £12,500.
10. On 20 January 2004, the first powers from the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 came into force, including (Home Office press notice 023/2004):
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restrictions on ownership of airguns;
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a new offence of possession of an air weapon or replica firearm in a public place without reasonable excuse.
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a ban on sale and manufacture of high powered air weapons
11. On 14 October 2004, the Government launched the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan and the Together campaign. These set out what practical help the Government is giving to councils and other local agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour (Home Office press office 278/2003).
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