The crime-reporting line Crimestoppers and the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) are joining forces in the fight against crime in town centres across the UK.
ATCM runs the Purple Flag Accreditation Scheme which recognises excellence in the management of town and city centres at night. The charity Crimestoppers, which runs the 0800 555 111 telephone number and www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Rodger Holden, Director of Business Development at Crimestoppers, said: “The charity’s vision states that people and their communities have the right to live without crime and without the fear of crime. Through partnering with the Association of Town and City Management we’re better able to realise this vision as we work in collaboration to make the UK’s town centres safer for residents and visitors alike.”
And Martin Blackwell, ATCM Chief Executive, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to work with Crimestoppers, whose 25 years’ experience in fighting crime will no doubt strengthen our efforts to make our town and city centres safer. Almost 90 per cent of the UK population live and work in towns and cities and almost everyone depends on them for access to shopping, entertainment, leisure, culture, public services and transportation, so it is essential that action is taken to ensure their experience is a positive one .”
About Crimestoppers
People can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use a ‘giving information’ form via the website www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 121,000 arrests and charges. Over £125 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £293 million worth of drugs has been seized. Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, PC, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers’ ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.
About ATCM
The not-for-profit ATCM includes over 600 town centre, city centre and Business Improvement District locations. Known for over 20 years as the Association of Town Centre Management, it is now referred to as the Association of Town & City Management. In early 2012, it launched a 10-point manifesto for town centres and high streets which can be downloaded at http://www.atcm.org/mfiles/files/971-ATCMManifestoA42.pdf
Since the autumn of 2012, ATCM has been working with over 300 Town Team applicants providing support for Town Centres and High streets across the country. As part of that effort, it launched a website, www.townteams.org
In March 2013, the ATCM produced a Gloucestershire LEP report and toolkit aimed at bringing fresh life into the UK’s town centres and high streets. The report, “Successful town centres – developing effective strategies,” can be found at www.atcm.org/tools
Purple Flag began in 2003, when research by the Civic Trust showed that a unified view of the night time economy and how to improve it was lacking, despite widespread national concern. The Purple Flag system of standards, partnership-development, entering, judging and accreditation was launched in 2009. Some 42 towns and cities in the UK and Ireland have been awarded Purple Flags since then and ATCM’s goal is to have 50 accredited centres by the end of 2013.
For further details of the ATCM, look online at www.atcm.org
Town Team information can be found at https://www.atcm.org/programmes/town_teams//
Purple Flag information can be found at https://www.atcm.org/programmes/purple_flag/WelcometoPurpleFlag
BID information can be found at https://www.atcm.org/programmes/uk_bids/welcometoukbids
