Joint policing operation to raise awareness of CSE in Lichfield Officers from Lichfield joined forces with West Midlands and British Transport Police (BTP) colleagues to raise awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in a week-long campaign. The operation, between Monday 12 September and Saturday 17 September, was focused on raising awareness of CSE at Birmingham New Street railway station. Local Police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) in Lichfield were out and about in the area supporting this wider activity by carrying out high visibility patrols and handing out leaflets to train passengers at the city’s railway station. The policing operation was also aimed at targeting individuals using public transport to travel to the area to commit crime, following several reported incidents of violence, sexual assault and burglary in the last month. The operation involved officers carrying out patrols at Lichfield City railway station, St Johns Street, Chapel Lane, Shortbutts Park, Strawberry Lane and Beacon Park. Inspector Rob Neeson, Lichfield Local Policing Team (LPT) Commander, said: "Staffordshire Police works with numerous partners to prevent Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) around the county. It is sometimes the case that young people will use public transport when missing from home, or travelling to meet associates, and it’s important to ensure that staff and passengers are vigilant about any unusual behaviour if they spot vulnerable young people”. As part of this operation officers and PCSOs from Lichfield carried out visits at the railway station last week to support colleagues from BTP who were running wider activity. This included distributing information packs to staff highlighting BTP and The Railway Children’s Safeguarding Children on Transport (SCT) campaign and alerting passengers to be vigilant and report any concerns. In addition, Lichfield has also experienced a number of issues involving suspects from the West Midlands area travelling into the area using trains. A number of arrests were recently made to disrupt this behaviour, with suspected offences including possession with intent to supply class A drugs, public order, assault, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. Another important element was using section 35 orders to exclude individuals from the area for up to 48 hours and if they returned they would face arrest. Suspects that were released on bail had strict conditions put in place to prevent them from returning to the area other than to answer their bail. We are also working with colleagues from the local authority, Youth Offending Team and probation service to problem solve with the young people involved in the reported incidents. Partners, such as those mentioned above and local schools, are really key in our prevention work and in raising awareness of CSE. Our work with them is very much on going. For more information about the signs of CSE visit Know About CSE at http://knowaboutcse.co.uk/ and report any concerns to Staffordshire Police on 101.
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Welcome
Autumn 2016
Welcome to the Partnership Update for Lichfield District, produced by Lichfield District Council on behalf of Lichfield District Safer Community Partnership. In this issue we have an update on an operation to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation, the SPACE Project, Positive Futures, tips to keep you and your property safe and information about Communities Against Crimes of Hate (CACH). If you would like to contribute to the next issue of the Partnership Update, due out in the Winter, please contact Lucie Ferneyhough, Community Safety Officer on 01543 308777 or lucie.ferneyhough@lichfielddc.gov.uk
Communities Against Crimes of Hate (CACH) CACH offer free and confidential support to victims of hate crime, hate incidents and identity-based bullying and work in partnership with local authorities, housing associations, schools and colleges to raise awareness. The project reaches out to young people in schools and colleges across Staffordshire to educate and engage students on the subject of hate crime. In addition, it delivers training sessions to partners and runs awareness sessions in community settings. If you have any contacts with schools or groups in your community that may benefit from an input from CACH please get in touch with them. A hate incident or crime can be aimed at anyone based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender or transgender. The incident or crime may include using abusive language, violence against a person or damage to belongings or property. A hate crime can be any kind of crime, such as harassment or criminal damage. These are classed as hate crimes when the person committing the crime does so because they think the victim is different from them in some way. A hate incident is the same as a hate crime but this is when technically no crime has been committed, such as low level bullying. Latest statistics show a big increase in the number of people coming forward and reporting hate crimes, which CACH say is thanks to an increased awareness of hate crime and better understanding of how to report such crimes and incidents. In Staffordshire, 740 incidents were reported to CACH in 2015/16 (an increase of 274% on the previous year). In the same period, 1035 young people across Staffordshire received a CACH awareness session (an increase of 314% on the previous year). In the Lichfield district between March 2016 and June 2016, 52 individuals have reported approximately 240 incidents with the majority (30) being race-related. Anyone can make an anonymous report to CACH. It is completely confidential and information will never be shared with the police or other agencies without express permission, unless there is reason to fear for a person’s safety. To make a report or access support from CACH, call or text 07971 497988 or fill in the online report form at www.cachpartnership.org.uk. You can also follow the work of CACH on social media, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram@CACHPartnership.
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Tips for keeping your property safe during the Autumn
SPACE Project
Lichfield is a safe place to live but now that evenings are drawing in, take time to make sure that you keep you and your property safe.
£13,390 was received from the Police and Crime Commissioner for the SPACE Project which aimed to engage with 11—17 year-olds across Staffordshire and Stoke-onTrent during the summer holidays. It was split in to targeted and universal activities.
How to stay safe while you are out and about or at home:
In Lichfield, the targeted aspect of the project was run by the Fun Club who worked with young people across the district. Groups of young people met up three times to take part in activities together and to build relationships before the residential. They helped to organise and run two Family Days at Curborough Community Centre in Lichfield and linked in with Burntwood Town Council’s ‘Play in the Park’ events. The events were really successful with between 100 and 300 attending the Lichfield events and approximately 800 people in total attended the two events in Burntwood. For the young people that effectively engaged in the project , it culminated in a Residential at Laches Wood, run by Entrust, where the young people took part in team building and social skills activities. The Fun Club were supported by other professionals such as the Police, Fire service, Preventing CSE Team and Positive futures. Lichfield District Council’s Sports Development Team provided young people aged 11— 17, with a summer activity pass. It was aimed at those most at risk of committing ASB, those that could not afford to pay for leisure activities and those identified as being inactive. The activity pass allowed free access to leisure facilities, targeted sports and physical activity sessions at the leisure centres and Beacon Park . They also received a Leisure Activity Passport (LAP) card which is valid for 12 month and will give discounts to activities after the summer holidays.
Stay visible when you are out and about, whether on foot or bike. Wear bright, reflective clothing and ensure your bike has reflectors and lights. Try to plan ahead. Make sure someone knows where you are going, who you are meeting and when you expect to return. Always plan how you are going to get home again. Stay Alert! Avoid talking on your mobile phone or listening to music on your head-phones,. Stick to busy streets if you can. Avoid poorly-lit areas, deserted parks, or quiet alleyways. Think about getting a personal safety alarm. Make sure you have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and ensure you check and replace batteries regularly. Ensure your chimney has been swept, as a build up of soot can lead to chimney fires Keep portable heaters away from curtains and furniture; and do not use them to dry clothes Don’t overload your sockets - keep one appliance to one plug where possible. Unplugging appliances when you are going to bed or not using them helps to reduce the risk of fire. Make sure that electrical items are still safe to use by checking the Electrical Safety First website www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/. Regularly check for worn or frayed electrical wires and do not use if damaged.
How to keep your property safe and secure:
This was much more successful than last year as we distributed all 100 Free passes, compared to only 40 last year and we also sold 11 passes at a cost of £20. The young people took part in 248 activities over the holidays, including boxing, Parkour, trampolining and Streetcheer. We had referrals from various agencies including the Local Support Teams and Family Intervention Project. We have also provided funding towards Liberty’s summer activities at Saxon Hill school and Queens Croft High School in Lichfield. The funding supported a weeks open access provision targeting young people aged 11-19 with physical disabilities and additional needs. The young people took part in a number of fun and exciting activities, including graffiti, arts and crafts, DJ-ing as well as visiting the Fire Station and Fradley Canal. Again this part of the project was really successful with an average of 35 young people attending the sessions at Queens croft each day and ten young people attending Saxon Hill with six older volunteers helping out. Overall the project has gone really well and we have seen a considerable reduction in ASB in north Lichfield from 43 incidents during the summer holidays last year to 14 this year. This includes 34 incidents of Rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour last year compared to 7 this year. In Burntwood the ASB figures were similar to last year but remain low with 25 incidents in 2016 compared to 20 in 2015.
Avoid leaving keys and valuables on display near doors or windows. Always lock windows and doors before you go out or go to bed. Ensure you lock your car—’Make sure your fob has done it’s job’. Store bins and gardening equipment securely so they can’t be used to break into your house. Lock away valuable garden equipment and secure your shed. Use timer switches to turn lights on and off if you go away, to give the illusion someone is home. Consider fitting intruder alarms, door chains, a spy hole and external lights. Security mark valuable items and keep receipts somewhere safe. Always check the ID of cold callers carefully. Do not give any personal information to organisations or people before verifying their credentials.
For more safety information visit www.staffordshire.police.uk/crimeprevention or www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk/HomeSafety.asp
Positive Futures Sessions, Burntwood The new Parkour (or Free Running) sessions which take place next to Burntwood Skate Park are going well with young people attending on a weekly basis. The Burton Albion Sports Sessions have also been well attended and the instructors are starting to gain the trust and build relationships with the young people that regularly meet at the skate park. The Sports Development Team are currently in talks with Burton Albion to see how these sessions can be sustained. On Tuesday 4th October, Tasmin Turner (Youth Sports Development Officer), along with a representative from T3 and Staffordshire Police Child Sexual Exploitation Team visited the skate park to talk to the young people who regularly meet there about issues that can affect them, such as drug and alcohol misuse and CSE. For more information about Positive Futures and the sessions they offer please contact Tasmin Turner on 01543 308835 or Tasmin.Turner@lichfielddc.gov.uk.
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