Bracknell

Bracknell Forest has seen a dramatic decrease in crime thanks to the success of the Safer Communities Strategy.

Created by Bracknell Forest Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership in 2005, the three-year strategy aimed at reducing crime and anti-social behaviour in all areas of the borough. The strategy involved the partnership working between the local authority police, fire service, health service and voluntary organisations within the community to tackle local crime and disorder.

According to the latest figures, the overall crime level taken from the British Crime Survey, against which the police and borough council are measured, is down by more than 20 per cent between March 2007 and January 2008.

Particular Bracknell crime types include robbery of personal property down by approximately 44 per cent, damage to vehicles was down by more than 27 per cent and all auto crime down by more than 26 per cent.

Anti-social behaviour is recorded by the council from data provided by the police, fire service and the councils own departments. These reports are also down by seven per cent since March 2007.

Ian Boswell, Community Safety Manager for Bracknell Forest Borough Council, said: “Bracknell Forest suffers from low levels of crime but this doesn’t mean that we are complacent.

“Through the Safer Communities Strategy the Council works with police, fire service, probation service, health service and other voluntary organisations to address crime in the borough.

“We are currently planning a new three-year strategy to make Bracknell Forest an even safer place to live and work. We have had a very successful 2007 in reducing crime but there are still many people in the borough with a disproportionate fear of crime. We want people to take reasonable steps to look after themselves, their property and each other but it is a shame when people restrict their lifestyle out of an unnecessary fear of crime. While reducing crime levels further, we will also aim to address negative perceptions of crime.”

The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership is currently writing the next three-year strategy to further reduce crime. This strategy will be launched at the Grange Hotel in Bracknell, on Tuesday, June 19, at 5:30pm. The event will be open to the public.

Cllr Iain McCracken, Executive Member for Bracknell Leisure, Corporate Services and Public Protection, said: “We are committed to working with our partner organisations to further reduce crime in the borough.

“These figures prove that Bracknell Forest is becoming an even safer place to live and we will continue to work in the community to make residents feel safe and secure.”

Bracknell Forest Borough Council