Extra investment to drive future solutions to crime and anti-social behaviour

The PCC has agreed to extend funding for Problem-Solving Co-ordinators in each of the county's six Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) for a further 12 months until March 2026.  

The PCC has also reopened his Safer Communities Fund, giving Community Safety Partnerships another opportunity to bid for vital funding to focus on the issues that impact communities most. 

From local initiatives to reduce ASB or proactively address fly-tipping, through to extra security resources to deter and detect crime, the Commissioner is making up to £10k available in each CSP area. 

"Anti-social behaviour can blight community life"

Darryl said: "Local issues like anti-social behaviour can blight community life and prevent people from enjoying their lives as they should. Cambridgeshire Constabulary now have a record number of officers and have also been using £1m extra funding this year to ramp up proactive police patrols to target anti-social behaviour and serious violence.  

"Our CSPs have achieved phenomenal results since our Problem-Solving Co-ordinators were first introduced, and I am pleased we now have these posts in place in every area of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Their work has been boosted by funding from my Safer Communities Fund to address the root causes of nuisance behaviour and secure new equipment and resources to help detect and deter crime. The continuation of this funding will support further solutions to make our communities stronger and more resilient to ASB and disorder." 

CSPs are made up of local partners including councils, police, fire and community representatives who work together to address local issues that the police are unable to solve alone. 

Problem-Solving Co-ordinators work with communities and partners to resolve issues and help the PCC meet the priorities set out in his Police and Crime Plan. 

Cllr Susan Wallwork, Fenland District Council portfolio holder for community and community safety, said: "We're dedicated to continuing to work with all our Community Safety Partnership partners to continue to tackle issues that we know are important to our residents and have serious, far-reaching impacts on communities. 

"We welcome all additional investment and resource into that aim." 

In addition to the extra police patrols to target anti-social behaviour and serious violence, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are also benefiting from a £820k funding boost from the Safer Streets 5 programme. These improvements are designed to protect residents from burglary and anti-social behaviour and reduce the risk of violence to women and girls across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

Cllr Cameron Holloway, Executive Councillor for Community Safety, Homelessness and Wellbeing, Cambridge City Council said: "No one deserves to be a victim of anti-social behaviour or criminal activity, and these are issues we take very seriously in Cambridge.  

"We are grateful that the Commissioner has announced this opportunity for Community Safety Partnerships to access further funding to help us to continue to address issues in the city. Previous funding has allowed the council to work with partners to identify crime hot spots and develop action plans to respond to specific areas of concern - a good example is our work to tackle anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour on buses. The Cambridge Community Safety Partnership is dedicated to understanding the issues faced by people in Cambridge and finding a way to prevent and deal with them." 

Cllr Alison Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Peterborough City Council added: "The extra funding is great news and will enable us to continue our work in the city against anti-social behaviour, including the possible renewal of the Millfield, New England, Eastfield & Embankment PSPO (Public Space Protection Order). 

"It will also help us and our partners to continue our engagement with city centre agencies, residents, community groups, and businesses, on any issues they have raised." 

Examples of the community safety problem solving work include: 

East Cambridgeshire CSP 

Funding secured from the Safer Communities Fund has enabled the redesign of promotional resources including new posters, pin badges and bookmarks to raise awareness of hate crime countywide. These have been provided to organisations signing up to become Hate Crime Reporting Centres.  

Fenland CSP  

Funding secured from the Safer Communities Fund has addressed historic issues with fly-tipping in two laybys along Coldham Bank. This includes the hire of a 'grab' lorry used to remove 22 tonnes of waste while a litter pick was carried out by council staff. Anti-fly-tipping signs and CCTV camera signs were also installed in the layby and have contributed to a significant improvement in the area.  

South Cambridgeshire CSP 

South Cambridgeshire CSP's Problem-Solving Co-ordinator linked up with the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre and other organisations to host two training sessions for parents and community workers as part of an effort to reduce young people's vulnerability to exploitation. Parent-focused sessions were delivered to help residents understand county lines and importantly advise them on what to do if they suspected a young person was at risk.  

Cambridge CSP  

The CSP's Problem-Solving Co-ordinator facilitated monthly multi-agency meetings to tackle ASB and criminal behaviour on buses. Action included raising aware of ASB and how to report it to bus drivers and the public, police attendance at a 4am drivers briefing, bespoke ASB posters for buses, exploration of assault screens to protect drivers, attendance of bus managers at Businesses Against Abuse training, targeted patrols and increased engagement/visibility from the Neighbourhood Policing Officer and PCSO. 

Huntingdonshire CSP  

The Problem-Solving Co-ordinator has taken the lead in the development of town and parish newsletters highlighting the work of the CSP. In addition, they have developed a community intelligence submission page to allow residents to feedback information about their community and have taken an active role in promoting a partnership response to ASB and crime.  

Safer Peterborough CSP  

The Problem-Solving Co-ordinator has engaged in multi-agency work to tackle ASB, particularly in the City Centre. They have also linked up with businesses impacted by ASB and assisted in the delivery of Safer Streets 5.  

See Community Safety Partnership (CSP) for information about it. 

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August 2024