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Safer South Derbyshire Partnership

South Derbyshire is a safe place to live, work and to visit and the partnership is committed to making it even more secure.
Safer south Derbyshire logo - teamwork, keeping our community safe

Why the partnership was formed

The 1998 Crime and Disorder Act identified that the police, district and county councils should work together with health providers, the probation service and other local organisations, to make their areas even safer places to live and work. The Safer South Derbyshire Partnership was created as a result of this legislation.

The general aim

South Derbyshire is a safe place to live, work and to visit and the Partnership is committed to making it even more secure. The partners also know that fear of crime can be damaging to our society and so by providing information to people and keeping in contact with them it hopes to allay fears that need not exist.

The Safer Derbyshire website - www.saferderbyshire.gov.uk 

Partnership Plan Document 2011-2014

The Safer South Derbyshire Partnership produces a 3-year Partnership Plan that details what and who the Partnership is, what its priorities are and what action it will be taking over the three year period to reduce crime and disorder in the South Derbyshire district. The Plan is reviewed on an annual basis to show progress over the past 12 months and to add in new priorities and actions.

Download a copy of the Plan at the bottom of this page under the section 'Related Documents'

Latest news

HOPE (Help Open Peoples Eyes)

On 1st November a new Swadlincote Contemporary Art Gallery opened with the launch of HOPE at Peoples Express, (The old pressing Shop, Sharpes Pottery) in swadlincote. HOPE is a visual art exhibition telling one, of many, stories - a woman's journey from her darkness into light.

The installation which has been a partnership between People Express Community Arts Organisation (South Derbyshire) and Reach The People Charity, combines original film footage, handmade objects, text and digital artwork created through artist's residencies within a 'Reach the People Charity' refuge for women and their families.

Women were encouraged to partake in a range of activities to unlock hidden talents, experience activities that they had not had the opportunity to do before aiming to support them to raise their confidence, self-esteem and become part of the community they are living in. The Gallery is open to visitors until 17th November.

For more information please contact:  enquiries@people-express.org.uk or 01283 552962  www.people-express.org.uk.

Derbyshire Police Authority's Local Policing Review for 2011

The document gives details of the past 12 months, highlights the current financial position and looks ahead to the future.  Download it here.

Operation Roundhill

The Partnership, local Police and the CVS Handyvan scheme fitted anti-vandal number plate screws to over 60 vehicles at Stenson Fields in September.  This initiative aimed to prevent motorists from having number plates taken from their vehicles and used for petrol thefts and other crimes.

Handy Van  

The South Derbyshire Handy Van scheme has recently been awarded the Derbyshire County Council countywide provider of the year award.  

 National Award for Partnership Project

A prestigious national award that recognises excellence in public service has been won by a project introduced in Swadlincote by the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership.

More than 300 entries were submitted for the 22 Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) awards, with the winners announced at a gala celebration attended by 400 guests in Derry, Ireland.

The Safer South Derbyshire Partnership’s AlertBox project, introduced to help cut low-level crime and anti-social behaviour, reduce fear of crime and strengthen the business community in Swadlincote, was announced as a finalist in July.

In its 2,000-word entry to the awards, the Partnership described the AlertBox project and what it has achieved in the town.

Summarising the system, which allows businesses to alert each other at the touch of a button, the entry said: “The introduction of AlertBox in Swadlincote by the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership has delivered a range of benefits.

“It has helped to forge new links between businesses and Safer South Derbyshire Partnership members including the Police. It is delivering a very valuable confidence boost.”

Other finalists in the Best Public/Private Partnership Working Initiative category included Carmarthenshire County, Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority and South Ayrshire Council. 

The award was accepted on behalf of the Partnership by Jonathan Little, Economic Development Officer with South Derbyshire District Council, and Kam Kanda of AlertBox. It was handed over by Irish TV presenter Sile Seoige, Judith Barnes, Partner and Head of Local Government at category sponsor Evershed’s and Paul O'Brien, Chief Executive of APSE.

Cllr Robert Wheeler, Chair of the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership, said: “All the Partnership members are absolutely delighted with this outstanding achievement.


“At the presentation the project was described as an outstanding example of a public private partnership as decided by APSE’s panel and that is exactly what it is. It has achieved what the Partnership and the traders wanted it to in terms of reducing crime and boosting confidence and to gain national recognition for that is very pleasing.”

The Partnership’s award submission will now be used with those of the other winners to promote and share best practice among public service organisations throughout the UK.

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The Derbyshire Handy Van Network is open to all people of South Derbyshire who are 60 and over. You can phone and ask for the van to visit your home and help with the following:

  • Home fire safety checks
  • Smoke alarms checked and fitted
  • Home security checks
  • Energy efficiency advice

The visits and the equipment they install are totally FREE and each household can have up to two visits per year.

For more information, you can download a brochure at the bottom of this page below related documents or contact Amanda Elliott at South Derbyshire CVS on - 01283 219761.

Safer Homes is a mobile joinery service working to improve security in the homes of the elderly (aged over 60) and vulnerable people living in South Derbyshire.

The scheme works by installing door or window locks and other security equipment free of charge.  As well as installing safety and security measures, the Safer Homes joiner, Paul Taylor, will also give free crime prevention advice. The scheme, which has been set up by the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership, is operated on a day-to-day basis by the CVS. Again this service is absolutely FREE.

For more information or to make a referral you can download a brochure at the bottom of this page below related documents or contact Amanda Elliott at South Derbyshire CVS on - 01283 550163. 

Who are its members?

What are the main issues the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership focuses on?

Anti - Social Behaviour

A range of actions are being used to reduce anti-social behaviour, including looking at the social conditions which cause crime and disorder and providing young people with valuable and stimulating activities. Examples of projects this team has worked on include providing CCTV in the bus station and leisure centre car parks and introducing the power for police officers to disperse groups of people behaving anti-socially in Melbourne. The Partnership has also arranged thought-provoking drama presentations to local schools about a range of issues including graffiti, litter, damaging property, bullying and racism.

Fear of Crime

Crime figures show that often the actual level of crime is not nearly as bad as people imagine.
Providing information about what is happening through police liaison and the council’s area meetings is one of a number of ways the Partnership is helping with this. Other examples of projects the Partnership has worked on include the Liberation Day event and the creation of Safer Neighbourhood Groups. The Partnership also helps to develop and support  Neighbourhood Watch schemes in conjunction with members of members of the community.

Violent Crime

The Partnership team aims to promote personal safety at home and in public places. Actions include the provision of domestic abuse support services and research into the effects on minority groups.

Property Crime

The Partnership deals with theft of and from cars, and is also committed to reducing the amount of domestic burglaries. Examples of projects include obtaining money to help pay for a Disposal of Abandoned Vehicle's scheme and providing tamper-proof tax disk holders. The team has also established a scheme to install alarms in the homes of burglary victims and provided property security marking kits.

Substance Misuse

This covers everything from abuse of alcohol and solvents to the buying, selling and use of illegal drugs. Examples of projects this team has worked on include providing a drugs education project in primary schools across the District, and the introduction of Breakout, a young persons’ treatment service, in South Derbyshire.

Prolific and Priority Offenders Scheme

This scheme identifies and targets those offenders who cause the most harm to the community of South Derbyshire. Action is coordinated using three main strands Catch and Convict, Prevent and Deter and Rehabilitate and Resettle on a case-by-case basis.
 More about the Reach Project, our Prolific and Priority Offenders Scheme

How can I help the partnership?

There are a number of ways everyone who spends time in South Derbyshire can help. Why not consider:

Joining yourNeighbourhood Watchscheme and if there isn't one in your area, why not set one up by telephoning 01283 595787

Encouraging everyone to report all crimes. Unless you do, we have no accurate information about the kinds of crimes being committed and the places they happen in.

Underage Sales Reporting FormDerbyshire County Council's Trading Standards Dept have launched a new form to make it easier to report licensed premises who are suspected of making sales to under 18's - the form can be accessed here.

It is simple to use and can either be posted to or emailed directly to the Trading Standards team. All reports will be followed up by the team and where appropriate Test Purchase Operations can be carried out.

Becoming a Special Constable. Find out more about what is involved by telephoning 01773 572797. You could be helping your community reduce the rates of crime.

Attending Safer Neighbourhood meetings. The Safer Neighbourhood Scheme has been developed in South Derbyshire and is being co-ordinated by the Safer South Derbyshire Partnership. It aims to ensure that public concerns relating to Crime and Disorder issues are recognised and acted upon by providing dedicated and accountable resources to dedicated geographical area. We will use a multi-agency approach to tackle problems and will hold quarterly meetings in each of the 6 Areas to which representatives of the statutory agencies and members of the public will be invited. The aim is to reduce the fear of crime and create safer environments.

More about Safer Neighbourhood areas and meetings

Contact details

Safer South Derbyshire Partnership: 01283 595858

South Derbys Anti-Social Behaviour Helpline: 01283 595 795

Useful telephone numbers

Crime Stoppers - 0800 555111
Stop Hate Crime Help line - 0800 138 1625
Next Step (Domestic Abuse Support Service) - 01283 229854
Derbyshire Police (Non Emergency Number) - 101
Victim Support - 01332 349956
Derbyshire Trusted Trader Scheme - 08456 058 058
Derbyshire Trading Standards - 01629 580000

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