RESPECT FOR NOTTINGHAM – INFORMATION UPDATE
26th March 2004
1 SUMMARY
This report outlines the objectives of the Respect for Nottingham initiative, achievements to-date and the current status of key activities in each target area. This is a further update to the report [dated] ... 5th February 2004.
The original report can be found on Nottingham City Council's web-site.
2 OBJECTIVES
Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire Police jointly developed the “Respect for Nottingham” strategy and action plan. The plans incorporate a series of uncompromising measures to tackle the issues of begging, street prostitution and drug dealing. The initiative was launched in October 2003. It set out to create obvious, visible reductions in:
- Begging, by January 2004
- Street prostitution, by December 2004
- Street drug dealing, by April 2005
- Anti social behaviour by local youths, by April 2005
- And, a noticeable improvement in the cleanliness and quality of the environment by September 2004.
3 IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES
The action taken so far has given Nottingham national prominence as an Authority which is prepared to take bold measures to address anti social behaviour and restore civic pride. These measures include:
- High impact publicity campaigns – begging, kerb crawling, graffiti.
- Significant expansion of the existing Street Warden service.
- Extended hours of the Street Warden service.
- Investment in street cleansing and graffiti removal.
- Successful bid to create new multi-disciplinary Task Forces.
- Increasing joint patrols and operations with Police.
- Early use of new powers – accreditation of Wardens, plus new legislation under the Anti Social Behaviour Act.
- Review and modification of housing policies, particularly in relation to Introductory Tenancies.
- Ensuring upon conviction, drug dealers and other such offenders are identified and exposed in the press.
4 ACHIEVEMENTS & CURRENT STATUS
Detailed action plans have been created for each delivery area of the Respect for Nottingham strategy. Since the previous update to the Partnership, the following additional outcomes have been achieved:
Begging
Respect for Nottingham Objective:
Achieve obvious and visible reduction in begging by January 2004.
(Original objective achieved)
Current action
- High impact publicity campaign – posters on buses publicising the 85% reduction in beggars since July 2003 (as per survey conducted by University of Nottingham).
- Diverted Giving Scheme – management of scheme to be transferred to DAT, to coincide with introduction of new Community Drugs Workers (within new Task Force).
- 40 additional street wardens, operational from 29th March 2004, reinforce uniformed presence, moving on etc. Joint tasking with police.
- Forward Strategy being developed to ensure the reduction in beggars is sustainable and that issues of migration and/or new hot spots are tackled quickly.
The results
- 85% reduction since July 2003.
- Establishing new targets for 2004.
Street Prostitution
Respect for Nottingham Objective:-
Achieve obvious and visible reduction in street prostitution by December 2004.
Current action
- Introduction of signs in “red light” areas, highlighting number of arrests of kerb crawlers in the previous month. Results to be monitored.
- Successful bid to create a new prostitution task force with up to 11 multi-disciplinary staff.
- University of Nottingham commissioned to analyse levels of street prostitution and kerb crawling in order to monitor effectiveness of the strategy. Consolidating data obtained through police, street wardens and P.O.W.
- 40 additional street wardens, operational from 29th March 2004, provision of more extensive monitoring data. Warden training has included input from P.O.W..
- “Moving On” project commenced with aim of assisting women exiting prostitution. 3 sessions completed with 5 women attending.
- Series of hard-hitting radio advertisements have been scheduled (aired April 2004) targeting kerb crawlers.
- First of series of police special operations undertaken in red-light area.
Anti Social Behaviour
Respect for Nottingham Objective:-
Achieve obvious and visible reduction in anti-social behaviour in local neighbourhoods by April 2005.
Current action
- Police accreditation of 40 additional street wardens. e.g. able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for littering, dog fouling, cycling on pathways.
- Promotion of new powers (street wardens) – 2-day ‘launch’ is planned in city centre, in conjunction with Notts Police, in city centre – concentrating on littering offences.
- Use of new legislation under the Anti Social Behaviour Bill - closure of 2 crack houses.
- Successful bid to create 4 new anti social behaviour Task Forces which would have up to 45 multi-disciplinary staff.
- Introduction of “Flare” software for use by Housing and Wardens to record anti social behaviour – project is planned for implementation early April 2004.
- Pilot scheme – use of fluorescent jackets by car park staff - high visibility uniformed presence as deterrent.
- Telephone Survey to establish public perception of anti social behaviour in the city and neighbourhoods. Results to be used as a baseline.
Street Drug Dealing
Respect for Nottingham Objective:-
Achieve an obvious and visible reduction in street drug dealing by April 2005.
Current Action
- 2 closure notices enacted under new legislation in Anti Social Behaviour Bill.
- Targeting of drug dealers resulted in 240 arrests in Radford and Lenton during February. Simultaneously saw 50% reduction in street robbery.
- Draft proposal being prepared for consideration regarding provision of a support package for drug mis-users to help keep clients in housing.
- Monthly analysis of drug markets – including intelligence submissions by Notts Police CAD analysts.
- Introduction of 40 additional street wardens, operational 29th March 2004 – increased collection of monitoring data.
Cleaning up the City
Respect for Nottingham Objective:-
Create a noticeable improvement in the cleanliness and quality of the environment by September 2004.
Current action
- 4 new vehicles (mechanical sweepers/bulk waste vehicle) purchased – operational by end March.
- Creation of an additional Graffiti Squad.
- Launch of “Name that Tag” reward scheme.
- Trials of graffiti treatment, e.g. parking meters.
- Preparations for lunch of “100-Day-Clean-Up” campaign.
- 40 additional street wardens – increased intelligence collection, e.g. fly posting, fly tipping, graffiti. Use of additional powers, e.g. Fixed Penalty Notices.
- Extended hours of city centre cleansing operations.
5. INVESTMENT IN SERVICES
- Council investment of £1.1M in wardens, with an additional £480,000 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund start-up funding.
- Council investment of additional £650,000 a year on street cleansing.
- Bid for £240,000 for prostitution Task Force.
- Bid for £1,100,000 for 4 new Anti Social Behaviour Task Forces.
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