New Safer Norfolk initiative launched by Police and Crime Commissioner Sarah Taylor to keep town centres safe

Norfolk Police has rolled out its next initiative to tackle crime in town centres.

Together with communities and businesses, officers will be working to keep the county safe during the summer months as part of its Safer Norfolk programme.

It has been launched by Police and Crime Commissioner Sarah Taylor, who says it will allow the force to take measures to design crime out of priority areas.

The Safer Norfolk partnership aims to:

• Work to build stronger communities so everyone feels safe to live, visit and work.

• Work directly with residents to understand the issues that matter most to them.

• Deliver community-led solutions to address crime and anti-social behaviour.

• Create and maintain communities

• Protect vulnerable people and keep all safe.

“Our town centres and communities are vibrant, welcoming places where businesses thrive and people feel safe to shop, socialise, live and visit,” PCC Taylor said.

“I am really delighted that the Government’s ‘Safer Streets’ summer initiative has given us an opportunity to shine a light on the work that the constabulary does, and to demonstrate the clear positive impact of close partnership working.”

She added that problems are best solved when done with the community rather than to it.

“I’m particularly pleased that this Safer Norfolk programme includes working with local people and businesses in many different ways across the county,” she said.

Mark Stokes, the chair of the community safety partnership which helped develop the programme, described the county as “one of the safest” in the country, but admitted that it should not make the organisation complacent.

“We know that with the warmer and lighter evenings, more crime takes place, particularly in urban areas,” he added.

“So, we are working closely with Norfolk Constabulary, councils, schools, health services, businesses, retailers, transport, and community organisations to deliver our plans in partnership for the summer months.”

The project is being managed by the Community Safety and Violence Reduction Coordination Team within the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office.