Below is a list of targets and information about performances relating to Safer and Stronger Local Area Agreement targets.

The targets focus on:

Arson

Domestic Abuse

Alcohol

Place Survey Targets

Assult with Injury

Prolific and Priority Offenders

Drug Users in EffectiveTreatment

For more information, please contact Vikki Howe, Information Officer on 01202 451332.

Arson

TARGET:  477 deliberate fires or less.

From April to June 2008 we had just 61 incidents of arson (data from Dorset Fire and Rescue Services). This is an 8% reduction on the previous 3 months and a 33% reduction on the same period last year.

Various schemes have been in operation this year that are contributing to this reduction. These include the introduction of a heathland warden for Turbary and Kinson commons, which was funded by pump priming money from the Local Area Agreement and improved inter-agency information sharing between Fire, Police and Council Planning Department. This has highlighted derelict and insecure properties more swiftly, which have the potential to become arson targets. Through early identification steps can be taken to have them secured by the owners, thus reducing the risk. After incidents of arson, fire crews have carried out an "Arson Quick Strike" which targets the surrounding area increasing people’s awareness of the risk of arson and giving advice on how to reduce it.

Domestic Abuse

TARGET:  Increase reports of domestic abuse.  

We are actively encouraging victims and witnesses to report domestic abuse so that we can help them and also have a better understanding of the problem in Bournemouth. Our target for this year is 2,077 incidents reported or more. So far this year 711 incidents have been reported. This is a 16% increase on the previous quarter and a 26% increase on the same period last year.

TARGET:  Increase offences brought to justice.

This helps us make sure that when we find out about domestic abuse we do everything we can to bring the offender to justice. Unfortunately data for the first quarter of this year is not yet available. Last year however we exceeded our target of 220 offences brought to justice and actually had 355.

There is a wealth of good work going on to tackle domestic abuse in Bournemouth, including successful case management meetings with a range of different agencies (known as Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences), the recruitment of a Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Coordinator and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors. Money has also been put into the extension of a programme run by Probation Services which works with offenders to change their behaviour. This is called the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme.

Alcohol

TARGET:  To introduce a Brief Intervention Therapy Service.

This service begins in August 2008 and provides a series of interventions for people who show signs of alcohol misuse in hospital or in police custody. Once the service has been running for a year, we will have targets to increase the number of people taking part and measure successful outcomes.

Place Survey Targets

In Autumn 2008 the new Place Survey will take place. This will be a survey of Bournemouth residents asking what they think about where they live. Our targets are:

·         To increase the percentage of people who believe people from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area

·         To create and improve the environment for a thriving third sector

·         To reduce perceptions of anti-social behaviour

Once the results of the survey are in they will be posted on the website.

A lot of good work is already underway to meet these targets. Prejudice Free Bournemouth and Poole has been formed to look at hate crime across the area, and work includes expanding the prejudice reporting form to a wide range of agencies. Safer and Stronger Communities have awarded money to the Bournemouth Volunteer Centre, and a Strategic Anti-Social Behaviour Group has also been set up to coordinate work by a number of agencies in Bournemouth in tackling anti-social behaviour. Their programme of work includes improving information sharing and targeting resources effectively.

Assault with Injury

TARGET:  Reduce the number of assaults with injuries.

Our target is 1,738 incidents or less. From April to June of this year we had 435 crimes. This is an 18% increase on the previous three months and a 12% increase on the time quarter last year. A specialist task group is being set up to reverse this trend.

Prolific and Priority Offenders

TARGET: Reduce the number of convictions of people known as prolific and priority offenders by 18% this year.

The people on this scheme are a select few who commit large amounts of crime in Bournemouth. Once on the scheme they are given a priority service, for example in court proceedings or drug treatment. This indicator therefore helps us to measure how successful we are in reducing reoffending amongst these people.

Unfortunately information for this year is not yet available. It will be posted on the website when it is.

Drug Users in Effective Treatment

TARGET:  Increase the number of drug users in effective treatment by 5% by the end of the year (to 990 drug users).

This target is led by the Drug and Alcohol Action Team.