Fire and Rescue Service Team up with Partners in South Beds
COMMUNITY Safety Partners are working with local residents to launch an exciting initiative aimed at helping Houghton Regis become an even better place to live and work.
From 1 October South Beds Community Safety Partnership is asking local people living on the Parkside estate to help them reduce crime and improve the quality of life and environment in the area.
The pilot initiative, drawn up following talks with local residents, is being supported by at least ten partnership agencies and if it is a success similar initiatives could follow elsewhere in the district.
This is a joint initiative between: Houghton Regis Town Council, Parkside Stakeholder Group, South Bedfordshire District Council, Bedfordshire County Council, Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue, Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust, Bedfordshire Drug and Alcohol Team, the RSPCA and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
The most important group in all this though is the community itself.
The South Beds Community Safety Partnership is looking for volunteers to help them during this month long initiative.
These volunteers known as the Pride in Parkside Street Team will help with getting the message of the campaign across to their friends and neighbours.
Although plans are still being finalised, there are loads of activities being organised that everyone in Parkside can get involved in including cricket matches and a Pride of Place event where locals can join council workers and other volunteers in clearing up parts of the estate.
Other initiatives include:
Bedfordshire Police handing out free security packs and offering to mark valuable items with "Smart Water".
Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service providing free smoke detectors alongside a general fire safety and anti-arson campaign.
Specific targeting of vehicle crime and advice on how to prevent your vehicle being broken into. Partner agencies will also utilise the latest Automatic Number Plate Recognition equipment to target criminals and take action against speeding motorists as well as multi-agency enforcements days on untaxed vehicles.
South Bedfordshire District Council’s Envirocrime Team will be out and about in the area targeting potential fly-tippers and offering advice to residents about how they can help with environmental issues concerning them.
Bedfordshire County Council Trading Standards helping residents identify and report rouge traders.
The mobile police station will be out and about and crewed by various partner agencies, acting as a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ to residents with a diverse range of enquiries.
Bedfordshire Police’s Operation Meteor, the ongoing clampdown on nuisance motorcyclists, will be stepped up, activities for young people are being planned, a mini-motorbike club is being launched and there will be further efforts to promote Home Watch and the 0800 555 111 Crimestoppers number.