Your Council working in partnership to make our city safer

An ex-offender carries out unpaid work under the Community Pay Back Scheme

Pay back time

A new way of fighting crime, dealing with criminals and restoring faith in the criminal justice system

This is a scene we're going to see more of across Hull.
Ex-offenders must wear bright orange tabards while carrying out unpaid work in the community in full view of the public.
Known as 'Community Pay Back,' the scheme is part of a government initiative called the Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Agenda which is being pioneered in 40 areas in the country.

Peter McCabe

"It's a way of showing the public that justice is being done," says Peter McCabe, neighbourhood and criminal justice manager with Hull Citysafe.
"People often think the courts are powerless in dealing with criminals, and for that reason they often don't report crimes.
"But this is a way of raising the profile of the criminal justice system and restoring people's faith in it." Residents are now being urged to nominate potential community payback projects in their neighbourhoods.
"Whether it's a stream clogged up with shopping trolleys or a pile of fly-tipped rubbish, or graffiti that needs removing, we'd like residents to suggest ways in which they could benefit."
(See opposite for contact details).

The big picture

As well as community pay back, a brand-new way of tackling crime is also being pioneered in Hull.
A total of 1,150 people are now being interviewed at random every three months (that's 50 people in every ward) and asked their views about crime and disorder in their neighbourhoods
Whether it's outside the post office on pension day or outside the school gates when parents are picking up their kids, people are being stopped in the street and asked to complete the community safety surveys.
"We want to get the views of everybody, old and young, so we can build up as big and accurate a picture as possible about crime and disorder across the city," adds Peter.
"Whether it's noisy neighbours, house burglaries, teenagers hanging around on the streets or rubbish fires, we want to know about it, so we can act."
The surveys are being carried out by a range of agencies including police community support officers, community wardens and community participation officers.

Acting on information

Residents' views are also being gathered at quarterly Crime and Safety Area Partnership (CSAP) meetings.
These take place every three months in each ward across the city at community centres, church halls, schools, and even, in some wards, in a specially-converted bus.
The meetings allow residents to identify three priorities for action in their ward over the forthcoming three months.
The priorities, and the findings of the community safety surveys, are then acted upon by Area Tasking Teams (ATTs).
These are made up of representatives from key agencies such as the police, fire service, council officers from the youth and housing teams, and Citysafe's antisocial behaviour (ASB) officers.

Working together

"An example of a problem for residents, for example, might be antisocial behaviour committed by gangs of youths – and that could be a priority identified by them as part of the community consultation," says Peter.
"The different agencies would therefore look at where exactly the problems were occurring, and at what services they could direct at the problem, individually or in partnership.
"For example, youth outreach workers could engage with the young people and possibly offer activities.
"Or an enforcement approach could be taken using the police, ASB officers and the CCTV team to monitor and gather evidence.
"It might also be necessary to involve the licensing team, for instance, in warning staff in the local off-licence not to serve underage customers.
"There's no black and white way of working, but the aim is for the partners, between them, to find sustainable ways to reduce crime." The final stage in the process comes when the results of the action taken are fed back to residents at CSAP meetings and through newsletters.

Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Agenda

Government crime advisor Louise Casey (centre) on her visit to Hull in 2007

The Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Agenda has been introduced following recommendations by the government crime adviser Louise Casey.
Formerly the government's 'Respect Tsar,' she visited Hull in 2007 and commented that all agencies were making "excellent progress" in working with residents to cut crime.
As part of the agenda, three 'community crime fighters' are also being recruited in each of Hull's seven committee areas.
It's hoped the volunteers will play an active part in representing and supporting local residents.

info

CSAP meetings across the city are organised and chaired by Hull City Council's seven area teams. They are also a chance for residents to nominate projects for the Community Payback Scheme. To find out when the next CSAP meeting is or to nominate a project, call your local area team on 300300.