Cheshire: Blue Lamp - Policing Halton
Background
The Blue Lamp project grew out of the 'Blue Christmas' and 'Blue Line' initiatives that took place from 2000 to 2002, focusing on reducing the fear of crime and working towards proactive community problem solving for local crime-related issues. The Blue Lamp project is intended to build on their success by developing the concept of 'neighbourhood policing'. It matches local funding with resources from the Home Office, the Cheshire Police Authority and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to provide seven Community Action Teams for the locality, each of which will have one sergeant, one detective constable, four police constables and three CSOs. By 2006 it is anticipated that the number of CSOs will have doubled. The project will also receive support from special constables.
Action
The focus of the work is very much on community engagement and including local people in decisions about policing priorities and practice. Participation and Delivery meetings are being held each month in each of the seven sectors of the borough. At each meeting a maximum of three issues are identified for priority action. The teams continue to focus 50% of their time on crime reduction, crime detection and enforcement. The solutions developing from the priority actions are often linked to existing initiatives such as the Graffiti Team, Pride of Place and schemes for quick removal of abandoned vehicles. The partners include public sector agencies, voluntary and community groups, local elected members, community representatives, young people etc.
Janette's involvement has been advising and assisting with specialised local marketing to encourage attendance at the meetings, and showing the Community Action Team sergeants simple-to-use direct marketing tools and principles. She has also been advising the sergeants on how to facilitate meetings and gain consensus from groups.
Further information
Please contact Janette: Janette.Wallace-Gedge@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
