A major new initiative to keep town and city centres across Gloucestershire safe over the summer was launched yesterday (Monday 30 June).  

The Safer Streets Summer Initiative launch saw emergency services and support agencies gathered together to show a united front to keep people safe from harm in our towns and city.

The united county-wide campaign will be tackling crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) across Gloucestershire. Representatives from a wide range of organisations gathered in Gloucester’s Kings Square to demonstrate their commitment to public safety.

The initiative brings together a powerful coalition including Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, South Western Ambulance Service, councillors, street wardens and environmental teams, support services, local businesses, voluntary groups, and other organisations like the Probation Service and The Music Works.

This group photograph (below) captures the strength of this huge partnership as the county enters a three-month period of targeted enforcement and community engagement in Stroud, Coleford, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Cirencester and the city of Gloucester.

From Monday 30 June through to the end of September, increased patrols and visible action will be seen across all town centres, addressing the seasonal rise in street crime and ASB during the summer months.

Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson said: “Preventing crime and anti-social behaviour is never a job just for the police. That’s why my Police and Crime Prevention Plan calls for a public health approach that brings people together. We work in partnership with all the other experts to keep people safe from harm.

“This summer, alongside frequent high visibility patrols to deter crime and anti-social behaviour and make people feel safer, we’re working with a whole host of organisations that we’re lucky to have here in Gloucestershire, that can help provide alternative activities and support.

“Locally we’re rich in people and organisations that want to help our most vulnerable.

“Not just our emergency services crews, our local authorities and housing associations.

“But people like The Music Works, Street Pastors, and our businesses who are keen to make our town centres a place that people enjoy visiting.

“This period of activity won’t come to an abrupt end in three months, we will continue to all work together to prevent and detect crime, pursue criminals and keep people safe from harm - one patrol, one conversation, one solved problem at a time.”

Chief Inspector Marcus Forbes-George, from Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: “We know that, during the summer months, anti-social behaviour (ASB) does increase in our city and town centres.

“The Safer Streets Summer Initiative is a fantastic example of the ongoing partnership work between the police and other agencies across the county who work tirelessly to tackle ASB.

“By drawing on these strong partnerships which already exist, we will do all we can to ensure that those who live, work and visit our city enjoy a safe and pleasant environment."

Communities can expect to see:

• Enhanced patrols in town centres and other identified hotspots, based on local intelligence.
• Increased use of enforcement tools including Fixed Penalty Notices, Out of Court Resolutions, Community Protection Notices, and fines.
• Stronger enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders.
• Additional security patrols at transport hubs and along key travel routes.

This activity helps deliver on the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer Communities priority in the Police and Crime Prevention plan, and supports the Government’s Safer Streets Mission and Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee.