Historic base for city police
Thursday 23 August 2012
Police in Coventry have moved in to an historic building – owned by the City Council - to help combat anti-social behaviour.
Swanswell Gate has become a base for St Michael's Police Neighbourhood Team to help officers engage with people who cause anti-social behaviour and address the underlying issues that lead to it.
The move is a result of work by agencies across the Coventry Community Safety Partnership.
PCSO Hawkins and PCSO Dryden have been working with local leisure groups and youth centres to ensure diversionary activities are available and young people are aware of what is on offer.
Local businesses including IKEA, BHS, Marks and Spencer and Spoils have supported the project by supplying furniture and accessories.
Sergeant Eaves, from St Michael's neighbourhood team, said: "Swanswell Gate will be used as a base for officers and PCSOs so they are in touch with city-centre anti-social behaviour issues.
"This is a great way of working in partnership to tackle anti-social behaviour in the city centre, away from a police station. We are grateful to Coventry City Council for sharing the building and the many local businesses that have helped us complete and furnish the building."
Cllr Phil Townshend, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Equalities, added: "Crime and nuisance reports in this area of the city centre have been reducing for some time. For the period of September 2011 to February 2012, the figure reduced to 97 incidents compared with 109 for the same period the previous year. This equates to a reduction of 11% year on year.
"More recently between March and May 2012, a total of 51 incidents of crime and nuisance were recorded on police and Council records for this area. But we can't afford to be complacent and this innovative city-centre approach to ensuring the figures continue to decrease for anti-social behaviour demonstrates the strength of partnership working between the police, City Council and other key partners.
"Having a neighbourhood team based in Swanswell Gate will enable officers to build long-term relationships in order to tackle anti-social behaviour problems and will provide the level of reassurance with a regular presence, that shoppers and members of the public expect."