Safe Space Campaign 2017
St Helens Council has once again teamed up with community safety
partners Merseyside Police, Helena Housing, and Merseyside Fire
& Rescue Service, to trigger a clampdown on anti-social
behaviour in the borough's parks and open spaces over the summer
months.
Running from July until the end of August, the 'SafeSpace'
campaign encourages residents to report different strands of
anti-social behaviour such as off-road biking, arson, neighbourhood
nuisance, dog fouling and littering; problems which often increase
as the evenings stay lighter for longer.
New to this year's campaign will be a clampdown on under age
sales - known as 'proxy sales' which will see Merseyside Police
work closely with the council's trading standards and licensing
teams to combat adults buying alcohol on behalf of underage
children.
Any person buying alcohol for a person under 18 is committing an
offence which can lead to a criminal conviction or an unlimited
fine from the courts.
Commenting on the campaign, St Helens Council's Cabinet Member
for Community Safety, Councillor Lisa Preston, said:
"One of the main purposes of our SafeSpace campaign is to get as
many eyes and ears out into our communities to report anti-social
behaviour taking place in our parks and open spaces.
"With the public's help, we can stop even more people committing
antisocial behaviour in their tracks and send out a firm message
that this will not be tolerated in our borough."
St Helens Local Policing Inspector Matt Drennan added:
"This partnership initiative is a continued response to
community concerns about anti-social behaviour in the green spaces
of St Helens, including the use of off-road motorbikes, which we
know cause distress, damage and danger.
"I want to thank the public for all the information they have
provided on areas of anti-social behaviour, and ask that you
continue to do so, so we can take swift action in the right
areas.
"As the summer months go on, there will naturally be an increase
in visitors to our parks and all members of our community should
feel they can visit our green spaces without fear or
intimidation.
"We will have officers on push bikes and on foot making high
visibility patrols in the areas, as well as specially trained
officers on quad bikes when required, which enable them to cover
ground not accessible by car quickly and safely. Previous
operations have seen arrests and dispersal orders, all of which
have reduced anti-social behaviour and nuisance, and this year will
see the same response."
Help us stop off-road vehicle nuisance in its tracks, we need
descriptions of bikes and riders, information about where the bikes
are being stored and names if possible.
Station Manager Paul Kay, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
lead on ASB/Arson Reduction said:
"The Arson team is committed to the reduction of deliberate fire
setting by proactively engaging with partners, carrying out target
hardening within the local community whilst actively investigating
incidents that are suspected to have been started by deliberate
ignition.
"Using a risk based approach, we will be delivering community
reassurance in the high demand wards across Merseyside. We will
collaborate with Merseyside Police, local authorities and other
community safety partners to set clear objectives to Prepare,
Prevent, Protect and Pursue in relation to arson reduction."
As ever, the key to the success of these initiatives is
information, and there are many different ways that you report
it.
To report anti-social behaviour, contact Merseyside Police on
101 or 999 if a crime is in progress.
Call Crimestoppers without providing your details on 0800 555
111.
To report anti-social fires dial 999.
For more information about the Safer Spaces campaign visit www.safersthelens.org.uk/safespace
Regular advice and updates are also available through the St
Helens Neighbourhood Twitter feeds:
@MerPolStHelensC: Neighbourhood officers covering St Helens Town
Centre and Windle
@MerPolStHelensS: Neighbourhood officers covering Thatto Heath,
Sutton, Eccleston, Parr, Bold, Rainhill & West Park
@MerPolStHelensN: Neighbourhood officers covering Billinge &
Seneley Green, Blackbrook, Earlestown, Haydock, Mossbank, Newton,
Rainford
During the campaign, young people can access a range of
activities during through St Helens Council's Youth Action Zone
(YAZ) and other local agencies - diverting them away from
potentially harmful anti-social behaviour.
To find out what's going on over the summer, visit: http://yaz.sthelens.gov.uk/