Safer Neighbourhoods
Police praise for Street Pastors on the Isle of Wight
Police are praising the Isle of Wight Street Pastors project for helping to reduce crime.
A group of church volunteers trained in working with people in vulnerable circumstances carried out regular patrols on Friday nights in Ryde town centre last year and in Cowes during the town's world famous sailing regatta.
Street Pastors are independent and do not work for the police, but their presence and contact with people on the street assists in preventing and calming situations where there is the potential for crime and disorder.
Figures from the project show Street Pastors have had 134 meaningful conversations with members of the public, and been involved in 33 tense or challenging situations on the island. They have given away hundreds of pairs of flip flops, bottles of water and foil blankets to people in vulnerable situations.
There was a 43% reduction in the number of violent crimes reported in Ryde town centre on Friday nights between June 1 and December 31, 2009. Crime in the Cowes area between August 1 and 10 was down from 70 incidents in 2008 to 64 in 2009.
Isle of Wight Operations Inspector Terry Clawson said: "Police would like to thank the Street Pastors for their hard work and contribution to this reduction in crime.
"Our tactics for policing the island's town centres at weekends are based on preventing potential problems from escalating into crimes. The skills of these trained church volunteers reinforce our work in identifying situations where people are at risk of becoming victims or being arrested because of their behaviour.
"We welcome the expansion of the Street Pastors project to include Newport town centre later this year. Co-operation with community groups is a vital part of our combined efforts to make sure crime levels stay low and the Isle of Wight remains a safe place."
Isle of Wight Street Pastors Co-Ordinator Dave Ouston said: "Street pastors aim to be a listening, caring, helping presence on the streets late at night. I am delighted that the scheme has been such a success in Ryde and look forward to starting our patrols in Newport in June of this year."
For more information about the Isle of Wight Street Pastors, go online to
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Young footballers tackle perceptions of anti-social behaviour in Ryde
Perceptions of anti-social behaviour in Ryde on the Isle of Wight were tackled by team work between young footballers, police officers and the community.
As part of a Hampshire Constabulary campaign to prevent anti-social behaviour, which was supported by the Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), Acting 
of the Ryde Safer Neighbourhoods team co-ordinated a community solution to issues identified by young people, their families and local residents.
Prior to the summer holidays, the Ryde Safer Neighbourhoods team held a youth workshop, which highlighted boredom as a community issue. Activities and facilities were suggested, and the biggest response was for somewhere to play football close to home where there would not be annoyance to anyone.
Acting Sergeant Sue Gill said: "Anti-social behaviour reports can often relate to youngsters playing football near people's houses. With the support of Mayfield Middle School, a free weekly Thursday football club was co-ordinated by the Ryde Safer Neighbourhoods team throughout the summer holidays. Local children were able to enjoy the use of the Mayfield Middle School playing field and equipment in a supervised environment. All were encouraged to show support and respect for one another by agreeing their own rules and working as a team."
Julie Downer, mother of 11-year-old Oliver Downer from Ryde, said: "It was good to have activities organised during the summer so we could be sure where our son was when he was out. People can get the wrong idea when they see children playing on the street so I welcome the police doing something like this, which allows youngsters to enjoy themselves safely in the local neighbourhood, and prove they're not going out to cause trouble."
Headteacher at Mayfield Middle School, Gary Booth, was delighted with the initiative: "We are always looking for ways to support young people in our community. School fields are a great resource and often lie dormant for six weeks in the summer holidays. This supervised programme made excellent use of the facilities and was enjoyed by all who took part. We look forward to future initiatives and partnerships."
Ryde Safer Neighbourhoods team supported Hampshire Constabulary's campaign to prevent and reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour. Police figures show there were more than 120 fewer recorded incidents of rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour in the Ryde area between April and October 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.
Councillors and Neighbourhood Watch join policing on the beat in Ryde
Police officers on the Isle of Wight are committed to reinforcing stronger links with the community to help maintain low levels of crime.
Five parish councillors and a Neighbourhood Watch area co-ordinator accepted an invitation from the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams in Ryde to see how the town is policed on a Friday night. They boarded a police observer bus for a tour of Ryde and surrounding areas where officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) were dealing with a range of issues and incidents.
During the evening, police confiscated alcohol from youths who were ordered to leave the area, where they had been drinking, under powers designed to prevent and reduce anti-social behaviour, which is the force's top priority this summer. The observer bus also saw police stop checks of vehicles reported for causing a nuisance in the community, and high visibility foot patrols by frontline officers and the duty Inspector in Union Street to prevent problems involving the town's pubs and clubs.
Police officers and PCSOs explained Hampshire Constabulary procedures as units communicated with colleagues across the island, in the control room, and with Isle of Wight Council CCTV operators and Environment and Neighbourhoods Officers (ENOs).
PC Nick Massey of the Ryde and Rural East Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, who organised the observer bus, said: "The tour gave an invaluable insight into the realities of policing a busy town on a Friday night, and raised awareness and understanding of the pressures that officers face regularly. I intend to organise more police observer buses because local community support is essential in catching criminals and keeping crime down. Parish councillors and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators are vital sources of information and help ensure people are safe and feel safe where they live."
Councillor Dick Doran of Wootton Bridge Parish Council said: "It was reassuring to gain a deeper understanding of the scope and organisation of the policing, as well as the real-time interaction with other available resources like CCTV. Our impression was of an efficient, capable and joined-up team approach to crime prevention, very much focused upon early and low key, but highly visible, responses to emerging situations. This is a message we can certainly take back into the communities we represent. Many congratulations on this excellent community policing initiative."
Councillor Tony Cooper from Fishbourne Parish Council said: "Too many of the public, me included, think that the only time we see a policeman is peering through a speed gun. Friday night showed the true face of the police, and it was interesting to hear the varied problems over the police radio.To witness the large resources tied up just to police one town on one night was a real eye opener.If the opportunity arises to run these trips regularly I would recommend them to other councillors as it is the only way to fully appreciate what actually happens."
Chair of Havenstreet and Ashey Parish Council, Councillor Veronica Hattersley said: "Two members from Havenstreet and Ashey Parish Council attended and were impressed in particular with the professionalism of the officers, and with technology now employed as standard, which meant that matters could be quickly and efficiently dealt with. A big thank you to everyone one involved for organising such a useful and interesting evening
Ryde Safer Neighbourhoods initiative
Hampshire Constabulary would like to take this opportunity to tell you about the Safer Neighbourhoods teams who police Ryde and the town's surrounding rural areas. Our role is to work with people, groups or individuals, and other agencies, such as local councils, the Fire and Rescue Service or housing associations to identify and address issues raised by the people who live in these neighbourhoods.
There are two teams, one led by Sergeant Steve Goodier, who is responsible for Ryde town, from Easthill Road to the Binstead Road and from Argyll Street to the seafront. It's a busy area with many licensed premises and entertainment venues.
The other team is led by Acting Sergeants Sue Gill and Mike Giddens They are responsible for Oakfield and Elmfield, Haylands and Upton, Binstead and Wootton Bridge as well as the rural villages of Newchurch, Apse Heath, Haventreet and Winford. The size and the diversity of the problems raised in these areas keep the team very busy.
Safer Neighbourhood teams have been in place since 2006 and have gone from strength to strength. Notable successes include
- A reduction in violent crimes in Ryde town centre, particularly at weekends.
- Closer co-operation with many community groups such as SWAG (South West (Ryde) Action Group, and the town and parish councils.
- The re-invigoration of Neighbourhood Watch schemes and the establishment of many more new schemes.
- Numerous youth activity projects, such as the Good Citizens scheme at Ryde High School, the 'Blues and Twos' club in local primary schools.
- Several schemes to tackle drink related anti-social behaviour, including working with local off licences to only sell alcohol to over 21s at weekends to try to reduce the amounts of drink being passed on to those underage
- Reducing reports of anti-social behaviour is Hampshire Constabulary's top priority this summer. We are carrying out extra patrols in areas highlighted to us. We have made seizures of alcohol from underage drinkers The number of complaints has fallen.
All these initiatives and projects have one purpose: To make Ryde a safe place to live and visit for island residents and visitors alike.
If you wish to contact the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, please phone 101 or e-mail at ryde.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
For more information about your local Safer Neighbourhoods team, visit www.hampshire.police.uk and type in your postcode.
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