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The Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is a strategic body made up of local organisations that work together to make the borough a safer place to live, work and visit. The organisations making up the CSP include Hertsmere Borough Council, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, National Probation Service and the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board.
This newsletter provides an overview of the partnership activity between April and June 2023.
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Hertsmere CSP is working in partnership with the Community Security Trust (CST) to deliver Women’s Safety Talks that cover risk assessments, conflict management, stalking and safety on the streets. The first event, held in Borehamwood in May was a great success, with 26 residents in attendance. Feedback from residents included:
“I feel much more aware and prepared when walking alone in the dark.”
“Very good for the older generation.”
“Good to know about the Hollie Guard app.”
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The Hollie Guard app helps to protect yourself, a friend or a family member. Every five seconds the platform will update your precise location based on your speed and movement activity to identify where you are once an alert has been raised. Hollie Guard is a personal alarm, deterrent, evidence catcher and more. Providing a lot more functionality than a regular keyring alarm for absolutely anyone who has safety in mind. If you would like to download the Hollie Guard app please visit: https://hollieguard.com/.
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Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue hosted an Emergency Services Pride Event in June, where attendees were given the opportunity to meet local emergency services including Fire, Police and Ambulance plus other partner agencies. These services were on hand to answer questions about safety, recruitment and more.
The Pride event, held at Borehamwood Fire Station, provided an opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ+ staff across the three emergency services, and to come together and make a positive impact in the local area. Hertsmere Pride and Hertfordshire Pride invites people of all races, faiths, genders, sexualities, and abilities to join in and show their support for the wonderful local LGBTQ+ community. Pride is for everyone, and the community always values more allies.
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Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership has installed eight mobile CCTV cameras in the following locations cross the borough:
- Edulf Road and Meadow Park, Borehamwood in response to anti-social behaviour and suspected drug dealing
- Newberries Car Park, Radlett in response to catalytic converter thefts
- Bourne Road and Moatfield Park, Bushey in response to youth related anti-social behaviour
- Hertswood Academy and Milby Court, Borehamwood in response to youth related anti-social behaviour
- Darkes Lane, Potters Bar in response to serious youth violence
Several of these cameras have been in situ for three months or more and will be redeployed as these issues have now been resolved.
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Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) have been successfully working to reduce anti-social behaviour in Meadow Park, Borehamwood following reports from residents that anti-social behaviour often increases as the weather gets warmer. In response, officers made the issue a neighbourhood policing priority and have worked alongside Hertsmere Borough Council colleagues over the past three months to address it.
High visibility patrols were increased in the area, a new CCTV camera has been installed and a series of community engagement events were held, which allowed officers to speak with residents about the work they were doing to keep the park safe.
As a result of this work, the number of calls regarding anti-social behaviour in the area has dramatically reduced, with just four reports since 1 April, 2023.
SNTs work alongside local partners, to focus on solving long and short-term neighbourhood issues, such as anti-social behaviour, speeding, criminal damage and drug related crime. Feedback from members of the public plays a huge part in the decision making and information provided via the Constabulary’s community voice platform ‘echo’ is used to help shape the priorities. You can give your views by using the relevant link below:
Please do not use echo to report a crime.
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PCSOs have been engaging with residents about local issues and crime prevention. Successful community engagement events have taken place across the borough providing opportunities for OWL (Online Watch Link) sign ups, echo comments and for residents to provide information on current local issues. Engagement with the officers has been excellent with PCSOs extending the times for these events due the volume of residents wishing to speak to them.
OWL is used by Hertfordshire Constabulary and local coordinators to communicate with thousands of watch members across the county. Hertfordshire has the largest Neighbourhood Watch network in the UK with 1 in 3 homes registered on OWL. OWL provides members with the latest local alerts and crime prevention advice sent by email, telephone or SMS. For more information and to join a Watch please visit: https://www.owl.co.uk/herts/.
An Operation Sceptre knife amnesty took place in Potters Bar in May. Op Sceptre is a national police campaign aimed at tackling knife crime and increasing the number of knives removed from our streets. This knife amnesty provided an opportunity for members of the public to surrender unwanted knives to the police, anonymously and without fear of prosecution for possession of these items. In total, 12 knives were surrendered.
Knife related crime remains lower in Hertfordshire than in other parts of the country, but this proactive amnesty aims to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is illegal and will not help to keep you safe.
If you are concerned or have information about someone carrying knives or are aware of anyone involved in knife crime you can report this by calling the Hertfordshire Constabulary non-emergency number 101.
You can report information online, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat.
Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form (opens in a new window).
If you would like further information on support services relating to knife crime contact Fearless (opens in new window).
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A Chatter Table is a social group that aims to bring people together over a cuppa and a chat. It is a great way to find out about what is happening in your local community.
Anyone who would like to attend a free Chatter Table event can drop in to the weekly Chatter Table at St Michaels and All Angels Church in Borehamwood every Monday (excluding bank holidays) from 1:30pm-3pm. Or at the Wyllyotts Café on the last Friday of the month between 10:30am-12pm.
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