Bucks Police listen to public concerns from Community Safety Survey

Feedback from last year’s community safety survey has helped shape the Safer Buckinghamshire Board’s action plan to reduce crime.

They received 1,041 responses to the survey. The main themes from responses are outlined below.

Top concerns related to crime in 2021:

• Fraud / scams, including online (69% of respondents thought this was a ‘Very big’ or ‘Fairly big’ concern)
• Theft of equipment / tools from van (49%)
• Theft from a motor vehicle (48%)
• Cyber-crime / cyber-bulling (44%)
• Criminal damage (43%)
• Shed / garage burglary (41%)

Top concerns related to anti-social behaviour in 2021:

• Speeding (77% of respondents thought this was a ‘Very big’ or ‘Fairly big’ concern)
• Fly tipping / litter (76%)
• Parking (64%)
• Dog fouling (51%)
• Criminal damage / vandalism (43%)

• Outside in the daylight, alone. 92% of respondents felt safe and 8% felt unsafe
• Outside after dark, alone. 53% of respondents felt safe and 45% felt unsafe. 2% didn’t know
• When on public transport. 55% of respondents felt safe and 13% felt unsafe. 32% didn’t know

Members of the Safer Buckinghamshire Board have carried out the following actions / projects:

• Expanded the Street Warden Team to cover Aylesbury town centre. Dealt with over 1,600 incidents in High Wycombe and Aylesbury town centres. This includes shoplifting, begging, emergency first aid and supporting vulnerable people

• Attended crime prevention events to provide advice and prevention materials. Particularly related to burglary, vehicle crime (including keyless car theft) and scams

• Raising awareness of scams. Buckinghamshire Council is proud to be accredited as a Friends Against Scams (FAS) Organisation

• Undertaken Environmental Visual Audits (EVAs) in local areas to identify issues of concern. Working with community members and other partners. Using a holistic approach to help address issues

• Extended the Hotel Watch Scheme across Buckinghamshire. Over 80 premises given guidance to spot the signs of exploitation

• Delivered Modern Slavery awareness sessions to over 100 partnership officers

• Resilient Families Programme provided digital resilience awareness to 155 parents. To help spot and prevent cyber-crime and cyber-bulling

• Delivered the Blue Light Project. Utilising behaviour change and outreach to help drinkers with complex needs

• 441 trained Domestic Abuse Champions in organisations across Buckinghamshire

• Created 3 community hubs to support and work with LGBTQ+, disability and ethnic minority communities. The hubs will deliver projects during National Hate Crime Awareness Week

• 177 young people at risk of offending engaged with the Youth Offending Service

• 26 volunteer mentors trained to offer support to young people. As part of Youth Offending Service project