(left to right) Councillor Janet Wood; Nigel Riglar - Head of Regeneration and Culture SDC; Philip Jones - Community Development Officer, FODDC; Councillor Mrs Anne Martin, Nick Raynsford - Local Government Minister; Chief Inspector Mark Organ - Gloucestershire Constabulary; Mercedes Vaughan-Davis - Community Development Officer TBC; Philip Sullivan - Community Safety Officer SDC; Rachael Cheshire - Community Safety Co-ordinator TBC.
Stroud District Council, together with the Forest of Dean District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council have been jointly awarded the prestigious 'Beacon' status as a result of their work to tackle crime in rural areas. Beacon status is the highest Government award available to local authorities.
Local councils have a key role to play working in partnership with the police and others in the community to ensure a comprehensive, consistent and properly co-ordinated approach. The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a statutory duty on County and District Councils and on the police to work together to audit local crime and disorder problems and devise strategies to address them in partnership with other statutory agencies and with non-statutory bodies. Councils must exercise all their functions with regard to the likely effect on crime and disorder. Councils can address particular rural concerns by such means as the promotion of "Watch" schemes, the use of CCTV, the employment of neighbourhood wardens, and better provision for young people.
The new Beacon Councils will now help other councils learn from their experience. By sharing their best practice with others, Beacon Councils can help to raise standards of public services across the country.
Though levels of crime and the fear of crime are lower in rural areas, the threat felt by rural communities is very real. The three Beacon councils can demonstrate how they are working in partnership to create safe and sustainable rural communities.
The Beacon process began with a review of our current strategies to reduce crime and disorder. It was soon apparent that all three districts suffered similar problems. From the start, a series of joint initiatives were drawn up to tackle crime in each area. All three understood that effective partnership working would be vital for success. The three councils submitted their joint bid late last year. After shortlisting, they were rigorously assessed before the Beacon Award was finally announced in April.
The three councils now jointly benefit from additional Government grants, national recognition and the opportunity to contribute directly to national policy development.
Stroud District Council, Ebley Mill, Stroud, GL5 4UB England +44 (0) 1453 766321
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