Combating crime and disorder is not just a role for the police and Forest Heath work with a number of agencies to keep crime figures low.

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998, as amended by the Police Reform Act 2002 states that statutory agencies must work together to produce three year strategies to tackle crime and disorder and substance misuse within their area. These statutory agencies are:

• Forest Heath DC, St Edmundsbury BC and Mid Suffolk DC
• Suffolk County Council
• Western Suffolk Police                                                                         
• Suffolk Police Authority
• Western Suffolk Primary Care Trust
• Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service

Partners are required to work together with a range of private, voluntary, public and community groups to deliver their crime reduction agendas.

On May 2^nd 2007 the partnership received official notice that we could merge with our neighbouring partners to become the Western Suffolk Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

Since the partnership formed many successes and projects have been implemented across the district:

• Burglary offences continue to reduce
• Introduction of racial incident reporting form
• Improved CCTV system across the district
• A number of projects to reduce crime including Western Compass, burglary initiatives, motor vehicle crime reduction and Safe as Houses
• A number of disorder and anti-social behaviour projects including successful applications for Anti Social Behaviour Orders.
• Continuing with raising awareness around sensitive issues such as domestic violence, bogus callers and homophobic attacks

The partnership carry out an audit of crime and disorder throughout the district every three years based on statistical data and consultation with the local communities. Although Forest Heath is a safe place to leave the partnership wish to continue to make the area even safer and will continue to deliver crime reduction plans focusing on the four main objectives.

• Reducing crime
• Reducing the perception of anti social behaviour
• Reducing the harm that drugs and alcohol can cause communities
• Reducing deliberate arson within communities.

For further information on the work of the partnership or general enquiries on community safety please contact the community safety co-ordinator on 01638 719238 or email community@forest-heath.gov.uk