One of the fifteen Regional Improvement & Efficiency Partnership workstreams is based on Safer Communities. As a cross-cutting issue which affects everyone, this has local, regional and national significance. It is also one of the six key outcomes expected of Local Area Agreements. In the South West, 17% of all LAA targets are safer community related. However the programme is one of the smaller RIEP programmes in monetary terms with £200k allocated for the remainder of the 3 year programme. Working with other key partners, it is intended that RIEP-funded support will compliment existing local, regional and national initiatives.
In October 2009 a survey was sent out to 80 key regional stakeholders and aimed to identify the key Safer Communities issues for the South West. The results of this survey are being analysed and will be considered by the Safer Communities Steering group when they first meet on 26th November. The results of the survey will make a valuable contribution towards shaping the RIEP Safer Communities Programme over the next 2 years. Initial analysis suggests that priorities for the South West include improving public perceptions and confidence in Police and Local Authorities and tackling anti-social behaviour.
Contact Caroline Longstreet for more information.
