Latest figures out from the Home Office show that Braintree District’s Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) has topped its class in driving down levels of crime in the district.

The statistics, just published, show that between 1st September and 30th November 2009, Braintree’s CDRP achieved the lowest number of crimes per 1,000 population compared to other similar sized partnerships operating across the UK. The statistics compare Braintree’s performance against 15 other partnerships, in its ‘Family Grouping’ which include Suffolk Babergh; North Yorkshire Selby; South Derbyshire and Humberside East Riding & Yorkshire.

The results have delighted the Council’s Community Safety and Development Team, who work together with Essex Police, the Police Authority, Essex Fire Service, Mid Essex PCT, the probation service and Essex County Council; as well as the voluntary sector, local residents and businesses to carry out a diversity of programmes and initiatives across the district.
 
Cllr Wendy Schmitt, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We are delighted to be in first position, achieving the best ranking within our family group. It has taken 6 years of partnership working for our CDRP to move from fifth to first place.   With effective strategies in place for 2010, our challenge now is to remain in first place and continue to drive down levels of crime and anti-social behaviour across the district.”

The announcement follows a recent string of successes for the CDRP which include:

-  A successful bid for £34,860 funding to purchase and equip a vehicle to support work programmes which tackle criminal damage related to alcohol mis-use and youth nuisance in the district.

-  Safer Essex ASB announced further funding of £10,000 to help resource the new vehicle.

-  The Home Office statistics also placed Essex Central (of which Braintree is part) as the highest ranking within Basic Command Unit areas (BCU) for Sanction Detections per Crime.

Issued 21 January 2010