Perception vs Reality The 2022 Residents’ Survey results indicate that 88% of residents feel safe during the day and 67% feel safe after dark in their local area. It also showed that 34% of residents feel safer if the crime rate is low. All recorded crime decreased by 11% between 2020/21 and 2021/22 however the number of people who feel safe in their local area during the day fell from 90% to 88% but increased after dark from 65% to 67%. The public perception of feeling safe has fallen slightly and therefore the reassurance messages are key to make residents and communities feel safer. South Staffordshire is one of the safest places in the Country but bordering the large conurbations and easy travel networks through the district perception of crime is often higher than the actual number of crimes. When asked in the Residents’ Survey what makes people feel unsafe in their local area 48% of residents said Anti-Social Behaviour made them feel unsafe, 44% said speeding vehicles and 44% said theft of/from vehicles which correlate with the priorities identified in the Strategic Assessment.
Housing providers through their transactional survey management scheme will be asking their tenants for perceptions of their local area which will also be considered within this priority.
Through partnership working positive messages have been and will continue to be circulated via the Community Safety Newsletter, South Staffordshire Review and Social Media explaining the work being done by the Community Safety Partnership, often led by Staffordshire Police, to reduce crime and improve residents’ perceptions. Community Safety Forums bring together Police Liaison representatives from all parishes in South Staffordshire to hold a conversation with South Staffordshire Council and Staffordshire Police and, if required, the wider partnership to address local community safety issues and concerns. It’s a two- way conversation with partners asking parishes to assist with circulating reassurance messages and promoting campaigns too.
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