Copeland Avenue in Smithfield was the focus of intense activity in a Streetsafe operation on 24th and 25th October in which Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers, members of West Cumbria Community Safety Team, Home Group Officers, the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service personnel and the Age Concern security advisor, all took part. Using skips which the team brought round residents cleared their estate of a lot of rubbish, such as old beds, prams, televisions, bikes and sofas, and helped the team to complete security surveys and fire safety surveys. People living there generally agreed that the area had improved greatly as a result of this joint initiative.

The exercise had been undertaken after a recent police survey showed that anti-social behaviour had become a problem in Smithfield, with youths hanging around and drinking in and outside a number of properties in the area, causing all the usual problems. After residents complained to the Police patrols, Home Group officers and to their resident’s committee a partnership was set up and it adopted this problem solving approach to tackle the problem. An initial letter drop informed residents that this partnership appreciated the problem and telling them what action was planned. An injunction was gained on a person shown to be engaged in anti-social behaviour, joint visits by police and Home Group officers were made to a number of properties, and all residents were reminded of their tennancy agreements. PC Andrew Watson and PCSO Charlotte Davies conducted high visibility foot patrol in the area, making frequent visits to areas that had been identified in the survey.

All this had the desired effect, and during the month of October, police had only one call regarding anti-social behaviour in the target area, concerning a drunk who was shouting in the street.

The fantastic football fundraising day in September has so far raised £508.50 for Open Gates which Stephanie and her team are putting towards Crime Prevention measures, on advice from PCSO Charlotte Davies.