Crime, disorder and substance and alcohol misuse have a direct impact on both individuals and communities in Shropshire. The Safer Stronger Communities Partnership is the community safety partnership (CSP) in Shropshire. Community safety partnerships (CSPs), formerly crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) were established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Section 17 of the act imposes a duty on local authorities and the police to:
without prejudice to any other obligation imposed upon it – exercise its function with due regard to the need to do all it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in its area.
The act made it clear that tackling crime should be a partnership matter, with key local organisations working together to achieve a shared strategy. Each local authority area was required to establish a CSP to promote the practice of partnership working to reduce crime and disorder. Each CSP was expected to develop and implement a three year strategy to tackle problems in its area. In doing so, the agencies represented on the CSP are required to work in partnership with a range of other local public, private, community and voluntary groups, and with the community itself. This approach recognises that both the causes of crime and disorder, and the interventions required to deliver safe and secure communities, lies with a range of organisations, groups and individuals working in partnership. Crime reduction is not solely the responsibility of the police.
Partners include:
- Shropshire Council
- Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Probation Service
The regulations regarding community safety partnerships were updated by the Police and Justice Act 2006. Further amendments were made to CSPs within the Policing and Crime Act 2009, and within the Safe and Confident Neighbourhood Strategy, produced shortly before the 2010 election.
Police and Justice Act 2006
Schedule 9(3) of the Police and Justice Act 2006 repealed the requirement of CSPs to produce three-year audits and strategies. There is also no longer a requirement to report annually on the partnership’s work to the secretary of state.
Schedule 9(4) of the Police and Justice Act 2006 increased the scope of Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (the ‘mainstreaming crime and disorder requirement’) to include anti-social behaviour, substance misuse and behaviour which adversely affects the environment.
Section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 gives partners the power to share information for the purpose of reducing crime and disorder. Schedule 9(5) of the Police and Justice Act strengthens this by introducing a new duty on the same agencies. This duty (section 17A) requires the sharing of depersonalised data, already held in a depersonalised format, for the purposes of reducing crime and disorder.
Joint strategic assessments
Since the Crime and Disorder (Formulation and Implementation of Strategy) Regulations 2007 were laid down, CSPs have had to prepare a joint strategic assessment. A strategic assessment is an internal document for the CSP to inform its partners of its plan, and it presents and interprets the findings of various types of relevant analysis and information.
It has to include:
- analysis of the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and substance misuse
- changes in the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and substance misuse since the last strategic assessment
- analysis of why these changes have occurred
- assessment of the extent to which last year’s plan was implemented
Regardless of the format of a strategic assessment, all are required to contain:
- analysis of the levels and patterns of crime and disorder and substance misuse in the area
- analysis of the changes in those levels and patterns since the previous report
- an analysis of why the patterns have changed
- the matters that the responsible authorities should prioritise in their work
- the matters that people living or working in the area consider should be prioritised to combat crime and disorder and substance misuse
- an assessment of the extent to which the previous partnership plan had been implemented
- the matters which should be brought to the attention of a county strategic group where one exists