Fear of Crime and Community Safety in Eastbourne

Some may ask – why is the Eastbourne Seniors Forum including Fear of Crime and Community Safety in its remit?  The answer is simple.  Fear of crime and the need for community safety affects the quality of life for each of us but in particular, older people.  They are more likely to feel unsafe on our streets, become more isolated in their homes and can be left with the inevitable feeling of rejection by society in general.  This is an area where we believe the ESF has a part to play in supporting older people at a time when they feel at their most vulnerable.

Fear of Crime affects every one of us in some way whatever our background. Crime and anti-social behaviour has become an increasing concern for most of us.  It affects our well-being and can have the effect of reducing our quality of life.  In Eastbourne where crime levels are low by comparison with many other cities and towns across the country we are indeed fortunate.  We can also take some comfort from the fact that fear of falling victim of crime is, in the majority of cases, different to the reality.

For an older person the fear of crime may mean the approach of a crowd of rowdy youths.  To a young woman on a train late in the evening it could be the presence of a group of youths or a single individual who, by their actions, represent a threat. What frightens most people is not the possibility of falling victim to violent crime but the fear engendered by the presence of anti-social groups in the vicinity.

Evidence shows that older people are more likely to report incidents of crime but are less likely to report anti-social behaviour to the Police.  Moreover, many people say that an increased level of policing on our streets will help considerably to reduce the fear of crime. The good news is that Sussex Police has placed Neighbourhood Policing right at the top of its agenda.  Also, the Eastbourne Crime Reduction Partnership – an inter-agency partnership that includes East Sussex County Council, Eastbourne Borough Council and Sussex Police amongst others has been responsible for the introduction of a wide range of issues aimed at tackling crime and disorder in Eastbourne. An increasing number of Neighbourhood Panels have been established in the town and Sussex Police are encouraging an ever increasing number of residents to unite with them in making their communities safer.

Each of us can play our part in helping to prevent crime by ensuring that we do not make it easy for the criminal. We look to the Council and others to provide better street lighting, Close Circuit Television  (CCTV) in public areas and safe public transport, but we in turn have to play our part. The most simple measures such as closing windows, locking doors, leaving lights on when out and remembering to lock the car can be effective in preventing any one of us from falling victim to the opportunist criminal.

May 2008 Update

As we move towards summer, we are reminded by our local Police that open windows and doors, cars unlocked and property unattended provides more opportunity for the criminal and reinforces the need for us to be security conscious. The message from the Police includes a warning to remove satellite navigation systems from cars as well as the cradle from the windscreen. Our local CID continue to achieve good rates of success in dealing with crime at every level.

Next month our local Police will be launching a new property register in partnership with other agencies aimed at those in particular who steal mobile phones, ipods, cameras, and other portable equipment.  This will be part of a National initiative being trialled here in Eastbourne by our local Police. Watch this space for more information.

It is reassuring to hear that our local Police Commander, Dick Coates has secured funding for a further twelve months to run a police operation aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour which will include placing more officers in the town centre at key times to provide the all important public reassurance that we look for to make us feel safer.

More information about local policing can be found on the Sussex Police website

Update - April 2008

Dick Coates the Eastbourne District Police Commander has just published his update for April 2008 which can be viewed in full by going to the Sussex Police website and then clicking on the heading "Local Policing" to the left of the website home page. On any view, our local Police deserve our congratulations for their recent success in tackling crime.

It is worth perhaps highlighting some of the successes.

A man allegedly responsible for a number of burglaries in the Old Town area of Eastbourne was recently arrested after a Police operation in the area.

Burglary in dwellings has been reduced by 30%. Car crime has been reduced by 32%.

You will see if you read the report that our local Police have brought more offenders to justice over the last twelve months than any other area in Sussex.  With nearly 40% of all crime within the town detected, the District Commander has emphasised the importance which he places on support and commitment shown by us, the public, in Eastbourne.