Officials from the SaferPeterborough partnership did a recent ‘Week of Action’ campaign that focused on reducing crime and disorder.
Agencies from the SaferPeterborough partnership staged a series of activities and events with the message of creating a safer and more confident community. Residents’ household valuables were smeared with SmartWater – a forensic fluid used for property identification – and more than 150 homeowners completed surveys and some, including businesses, were given fire safety advice.
Surveys about alcohol consumption were undertaken by shoppers and one person was detained for being drunk and disorderly. People committing other offences were also arrested including 20 people for shoplifting and two people for fraud.
A street workers patrol led to three people being arrested for trafficking drugs and one person arrested and cautioned for soliciting. The closure of a crack house was also granted.
More than 300 vehicle owners were contacted after displaying valuable items and a further 7,600 vehicles were noted by the DVLA for displaying out-of-date tax discs or having invalid insurance. Fifteen fixed penalty notices were issued to motorists for not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and contravention of traffic signs.
In Queensgate shopping centre shoppers were shown the benefits of recycling, as Peterborough bids to become the environment capital of the UK. People were also given advice on healthy eating and reporting hate crime.
Young people took part in a Peterborough’s Youth Got Talent event and showcased their musical talents and some braved a giant climbing wall outside the Town Hall after successfully completing a First Aid course.
A truancy sweep questioned 31 children and six people were stopped for cycling offences. Businesses had litter cleared from outside their premises and graffiti was removed from several locations. The majority of people asked said they were very happy living, working and shopping in Peterborough.
Steve Welby, Peterborough City Council’s community safety strategy manager and weeks of action champion, said: "This particular week of action posed new challenges, not only with the severe weather conditions but also because it had a wider focus compared to the residential areas we have previously targeted. Despite this, our achievements during the week were excellent and we were able to take away positive experiences and a different way of doing things, which we can apply to the next week of action.
"I am proud of the staff from all the partner organisations who worked tirelessly together to make the city centre a safer place. Credit should go to them and also to Queensgsate, as without their support we would not have been able to run a number of activities and events."
