Crime down but community safety concern still high

CRIME in the County has fallen by 5% in the last year but local residents still perceive it to be much higher and place the fear of crime as one of their main concerns.

That was the message this week at a top level seminar which brought partner agencies together to discuss community safety and work to reassure the public that East Sussex is a safe place to live and work. Organised by the East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership, the seminar brought together representatives including the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Fire and Rescue, local councils, Crime and Disorder ReductionPartnerships and other agencies.

Held at Wellshurst Golf Course near Hellingly (25/06), the seminar looked in detail at issues around the public reassurance message including:.. Neighbourhood policing.. Involving young people.. Making communities safer for older people .. Engaging with the media

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Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for Community Safety at East Sussex County Council officially welcomed delegates to the seminar. He said: "Time and time again local people tell us that crime and the fear of crime is one of their main concerns. Crime in the County has actually fallen by 5% in the last year but people perceive crime to be higher.

That is why work to engage with residents about this issue is vitally important. This seminar is part of that work and I am delighted that the Safer Communities Partnership is continually looking at ways both to improve community safety and also reassure the public that East Sussexis a safe place to live and work."

Talks at the seminar were given by Nick Wilkinson from Sussex Police,David Furness from the Safer Hastings Partnership and Marcus Gomm fromthe County Council's Safer Communities Team.