Some areas of County Durham have suffered with unacceptable levels of violent crime, acquisitive crime and organised crime. In these instances the Partnership have commissioned time limited groups to developed and deliver local action plans against these priorities.
Priorities
Our long term priorities are to:
- Reduce serious violent crime across County Durham and in priority locations where there are links with the night time economy
- Reduce the threat and harms caused to our communities by Organised Crime Groups (OCG)
- Minimise people’s risk of becoming a victim of acquisitive crime
- Reduce the incidences of acquisitive crime and to bring to justice those individuals who are responsible for committing such offences
Achievements
Violent Crime
Violent crime has continued to fall across the whole of the County, comparing much better than the majority of other areas in the country.
Offences of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) have reduced by 50% and rates of violent crime committed by 13-24 year olds has fallen significantly.
An action plan has been developed to tackle the national concern around knives. A number of interventions have already been put in place.
Organised Crime
Organised Crime Groups impact heavily on crime, anti-social behaviour and peoples feeling of safety.
Historically this has been the sole domain of the police. To be effective in tackling such groups the Safe Durham Partnership has recognised the need to support the police through developing an effective Partnership response.
A Partnership Disruption Panel has been put in place to identify, manage and disrupt organised crime groups.
Acquisitive Crime
Following an increase in acquisitive and serious acquisitive crime (including burglary and vehicle crime) in 2009, a number of initiatives were introduced.
This included improving information sharing across partner organisations, a communication and prevention campaign about theft from vehicles and efforts to reduce outlets for stolen goods.
There have subsequently been significant reductions in the number of serious acquisitive crimes and the County performs very well against other areas within the country.