Community Safety Strategy - Safer Lancashire

Community 

Safety Strategy 

2005 - 2008

For more information, please contact: 

Community safety team, 

Regeneration and neighbourhoods, 

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, 

Old Town Hall, 

Blackburn, 

BB1 7DY, 

Lancashire. 

Telephone: (01254) 585717 

Website: www.blackburn.gov.uk 

A copy of this document is available in Braille and large print. 

Contact the community safety team at the above address for 

details.

Community Safety 

Strategy 2005 ~ 2008 

Foreword 

Foreword 

As Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, I am pleased to present 

the Community Safety Strategy for 2005-2008. The previous strategy 

(2002-2005) period has delivered a number of successes for local 

communities, with significant reductions in burglary and vehicle crime. 

These have been brought about by a true partnership approach. 

The next three-year strategy period is likely to be even more challenging, 

with the Partnership committed to making Blackburn with Darwen an 

even safer place for residents, local businesses and visitors. 

This document sets out our 

priorities for the next three years, 

and the Partnership believes that 

by working together significant 

improvements can be delivered for 

the whole community. 

On behalf of the Community Safety 

Partnership, I look forward to your 

active support and involvement in 

our work. 

Councillor Andy Kay 

Chair of Blackburn with Darwen 

Community Safety Partnership 

00 01



Executive summary 

Executive summary 

• Introduction 

The Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety Partnership 

has developed the borough’s Community Safety Strategy 

for 2005-2008. In doing so, the Partnership has 

complied with its statutory duties under the 1998 Crime 

and Disorder Act (later amended by the Police Reform Act 

2002). 

The 2005-2008 Community Safety Strategy will respond 

to local community safety priorities. These priorities 

were identified through an audit of crime, disorder and 

substance misuse, and consultation with residents and 

partner organisations, who live and work in the borough. 

• Key findings from the audit and consultation 

Findings gathered from the crime and disorder audit, 

research and consultation, identified that the following 

priorities will form the focus of the Partnership’s work over 

the next three years: 

1) Reduction of key crimes 

Violent crime 

Domestic abuse 

Burglary 

Vehicle crime 

Crimes against local businesses 

2) Increasing confidence and safety in 

neighbourhoods through reassurance 

Preventing anti-social behaviour by addressing: 

Abandoned vehicles 

Deliberate fire setting 

Sex working 

Nuisance behaviour 

Graffiti and litter 

Race and hate crime and harassment 

Road safety 

Increased support for victims and witnesses 

4) Reducing the impact of drugs and alcohol misuse 

Availability of illegal drugs 

Treatment and support for adults and young people 

Increased access to drugs services 

Improving quality of life for communities 

Alcohol misuse 

5) Strengthening the Community Safety Partnership 

Increased voluntary and community engagement 

Improved communication and awareness raising 

Training 

Information 

Inter-agency action 

In order to reach the challenging targets detailed in the 

2005-2008 Strategy, the Community Safety Partnership 

will focus its resources to deliver these shared priorities. 

The Partnership’s progress against targets and the 

delivery of activities will be monitored quarterly and an 

annual review of progress will be published. 

• Outcomes 

Whilst the Community Safety Partnership is committed to 

delivering the numerous targets detailed in the Strategy, 

a key outcome of this Strategy will be to achieve the 

Partnership’s vision of: 

Improving the quality of life for 

all those who live, work and 

socialise in the borough. 

3) Targeting prolific and other priority offenders 

Prevent and deter 

Catch and convict 

Rehabilitate and re-settle 

02

Contents 

Contents 

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 

Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 

Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Contact details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Part 1: 

Part 2: 

Part 3: 

Introduction 

1.1 Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership: Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

1.2 Background: Audits, strategies and the 

1998 Crime and Disorder Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

1.3 Key approaches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

1.4 Partnership structures, membership and 

responsibility for delivery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

1.5 Links to other partnerships and plans in the borough . . . . 6 

1.6 Monitoring progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

1.7 How will the Community Safety Strategy 

be resourced? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

1.8 Brief overview of the structure of the 

Strategy document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Summary of audit findings and the development of 

priorities for Blackburn with Darwen 

2.1 Partnership progress between 2002-2005: 

Key achievements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

2.2 Description of the main issues and themes emerging 

from the 2004 Crime and Disorder Audit. . . . . . . . . . 11 

2.3 Identifying and refining the broad priority areas . . . . . 12 

Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety Partnership 

priorities for 2005-2008 

3.1 Priority 1: To reduce recorded crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

3.2 Priority 2: To increase confidence through 

reassurance in neighbourhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 

3.3 Priority 3: To target prolific and other priority offenders 19 

3.4 Priority 4: To reduce the impact of drugs and 

alcohol misuse in the borough by 2008 . . . . . . . . . . 22 

3.5 Priority 5: Strengthening the 

Community Safety Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

03



Acknowledgements | Contact details 

Acknowledgements 

Partners of the Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership have contributed to the development of the 

2005-2008 Community Safety Strategy. Thanks go to: 

• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 

• Blackburn with Darwen Community Associations 

• Blackburn with Darwen Federation of Tenants 

Association 

• Blackburn with Darwen Magistrates Court 

• Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust (PCT) 

• Blackburn with Darwen Youth Offending Team (YOT) 

• Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Arrest 

Referral Scheme 

• Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust 

• British Transport Police 

• Capita 

• Connexions 

• Council for Voluntary Services 

• Groundwork 

• Inward House 

• Lancashire Care Trust 

• Lancashire Constabulary, particularly Eastern Division 

and Corporate Development Team 

• Lancashire County Council 

• Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service 

• Lancashire Police Authority 

• Lancashire Road Safety Partnership 

• Lifeline, East Lancashire 

• Multi-Agency Data Exchange Project (MADE), 

Lancashire County Council 

• National Probation Service, Lancashire 

• National Health Service: Lancashire Ambulance 

Service and East Lancashire Hospital Trust 

• NCH Families Project 

• Night Safe 

• Racial Equality Council 

• THOMAS 

• Registered Social Landlords’ Forum 

• Victim Support Service and the Witness Service 

• Women’s Aid 

Contact details 

For more information, please contact: 

Community safety team, 

Regeneration and neighbourhoods, 

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, 

Old Town Hall, 

Blackburn, 

BB1 7DY, 

Lancashire. 

Telephone: (01254) 585717 

Website: www.blackburn.gov.uk 

Further copies of this Strategy and the Executive Summary of 

the Blackburn with Darwen Crime and Disorder Audit 2004 

are also available at the above address or online at 

www.blackburn.gov.uk 

Copies of the 2005-2008 Community Safety Strategy are 

available in other formats on request from the above address. 

A copy of this document is available in Braille and large 

print. Contact the community safety team at the above 

address for details. 

04


Strategy 2005 ~ 2008 | part one 

Introduction young people in Lancashire… 

experiences of local people, specifi c activities based 

on a problem-solving approach can be developed to 

reduce crime, disorder, substance misuse and antisocial 

behaviour. 

Part 1: Introduction 

1.1 Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership: Vision 

To work together to make the borough a safer place 

and improve the quality of life for everyone. 

1.2 Background: Audits, strategies and the 1998 

Crime and Disorder Act 

The 1998 Crime and Disorder Act (later amended 

by the Police Reform Act 2002) placed a statutory 

duty on local authorities and the police to work 

in partnership, with other key agencies, to form 

community safety partnerships. 

All community safety partnerships are required to 

develop and deliver local authority-wide strategies to: 

• Prevent crime, disorder, substance misuse and 

anti-social behaviour 

• Improve reassurance by reducing the fear of 

crime. 


published its fi rst Crime Reduction Strategy in 1999 

(1999-2002) and the Partnership’s most recent 

Strategy (2002-2005) fi nishes in March 2005. 

The Partnership’s three-year Community Safety 

Strategy for 2005-2008 outlines the key community 

safety priorities for the borough and includes a 

plan of action detailing how these priorities will be 

addressed. All partnerships are required to take 

responsibility for delivering their strategies and to 

implement initiatives to reduce crime, disorder, 

substance misuse and anti-social behaviour. 

Before partnerships can develop their community 

safety strategies, they are required to review levels 

and patterns of crime, disorder, substance misuse 

and anti-social behaviour and consult on the fi ndings. 

These analyses or ‘audits’ of crime and disorder 

are designed to highlight community safety issues 

that are of local concern by identifying what the key 

problems are, where they are happening, who the 

victims are and which individuals are most at risk 

of becoming involved in crime. By identifying these 

factors and taking into account the knowledge and 

This Strategy establishes the priorities, aims and 

objectives against which the Community Safety 

Partnership will be assessed. Targets will be 

monitored quarterly and an annual report will review 

the progress of the Partnership at the end of each 

fi nancial year. 

1.3 Key approaches 

To deliver the objectives and targets in this Strategy, 

the Community Safety Partnership will focus on 

prevention, early intervention and problem-solving 

approaches. 


is committed to early intervention to prevent crime 

and support social inclusion. Early intervention will 

be applied in various ways, for example, by: 

• Identifying patterns of crime, substance misuse 

and anti-social behaviour 

• Targeting resources and support to those 

individuals identifi ed to be vulnerable to crime 

(both as victims and offenders). 

Problem-solving responses are used by the 

Partnership to understand crime and anti-social 

behaviour and to identify actions capable of resolving 

local concerns. These involve a four-strand approach 

- scan, analyse, respond and assess (SARA) - and 

are based on the problem analysis triangle. By 

identifying key characteristics of the offender, victim 

and location, action can be taken at any point in the 

triangle to prevent crime and resolve the problem. 

The problem analysis triangle 

Victim 

Offender 

Crime 

Location 

05



Introduction 

All Partnership activity will be undertaken with due regard 

to the shared core values of individual organisations, 

equal opportunities, diversity, service standards, health 

and safety and appropriate work standards. 

1.4 Partnership structures, membership and 

responsibility for delivery 

In 2004, the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership 

in Blackburn with Darwen ‘merged’ with the Drug and 

Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) to become a Community 

Safety Partnership responsible for the local delivery of 

drugs and crime reduction strategies. 

Since becoming a Community Safety Partnership, 

the Partnership now looks beyond crime and disorder 

and focuses its efforts on responding to a wide range 

of concerns that local people have identified to be 

important to them. 


is made up of representatives from the following 

organisations: 

Membership of Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership between 2002 and 2005 

• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 

• Lifeline, East Lancashire 

• Ethnic Minority Development Association 

• Registered Social Landlords’ Forum 

• Night Safe 

• Thomas 

• Inward House 

• Crown Prosecution Service 

The Local Strategic Partnership is an overarching 

borough-wide partnership group with members 

from community, public, private and voluntary 

organisations. The purpose of the Local Strategic 

Partnership is to co-ordinate activity across various 

partnerships and organisations to meet the aims 

detailed in the Blackburn with Darwen Community 

Plan one of which is reducing crime and improving 

safety. 

The following diagram shows how the Community 

Safety Partnership in Blackburn with Darwen is 

structured and illustrates how the Community Safety 

Strategy for 2005-2008 will be delivered. 

Structure of Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership, 2005 

• Eastern Division, Lancashire Constabulary 

• Blackburn with Darwen Primary Health Care Trust 

• National Probation Service, Lancashire 

• Victim Support 

• Connexions 

• Groundwork 

• East Lancashire Health Authority 

• Racial Equality Council 

• Youth Offending Team 

• Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service 

• Blackburn with Darwen Federation of Tenants Association 

• Lancashire Care Trust 

• NCH Families Project 

• Blackburn with Darwen Community Associations 

• Women’s Aid 

• Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust 

• Council for Voluntary Services 

• Arrest Referral Scheme 

• Blackburn with Darwen Magistrates Court 

• School Governors 

Local Strategic Partnership 

Purpose: To deliver the Blackburn with Darwen 

Community Plan and co-ordinate all multi-agency 

strategies, plans, processes and action in the borough 


Purpose: To develop strategic and 

operational responses to community safety 

and provide training and support 

Implementation Action Group 

Purpose: To support the thematic groups to 

develop and deliver annual actions plans and to 

co-ordinate activity 

Thematic Working Groups 

Purpose: To deliver annual action 

plans to meet Partnership targets 

• Lancashire Road Safety Partnership 

• Capita 

06



Introduction 

1.5 Links to other partnerships and plans in the 

borough 

In developing the Community Safety Strategy for 2005- 

2008, the Partnership has considered the links to other 

local partnerships to ensure that connections are made 

across strategies and plans. These include for example 

the Community Plan, Belonging Campaign, Annual Youth 

Blackburn with Darwen Local Strategic Partnership 

Justice Plan, Health Improvement Modernisation Plan 

and Lancashire Constabulary’s Policing Plan. 

Connections have also been made to the Government’s 

Green Paper, Every Child Matters, which sets out five 

outcomes which are the key to well-being in childhood 

and later life. These are being healthy, staying safe, 

enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution 

and achieving economic well-being. 

Neighbourhood and 

Environment Forum 

Learning 

Executive 


Partnership 

Blackburn with 

Darwen Local 

Strategic Partnership 

Board 

Children and Young 

People’s Strategic 

Partnership 

Economic 

Regeneration 

Partnership Board 

Health and Social 

Executive People and 

Communities 

Thematic Forum 

Well Being Forum 

Neighbourhood and Environment Forum Core Group 

• Neighbourhood Networks 

• Strategic Housing Partnership 

• Environment Network 


• Substance misuse including alcohol misuse 

• Burglary 

• Violent crime 

• Criminal justice 

• Diversity 

• Anti-social behaviour 

• Young people 

• Vehicle crime 

• Racist incidents 

• Road safety 

• Domestic abuse 

Economic Regeneration Partnership Board 

• Blackburn Town Centre Partnership Forum 

• Darwen Town Centre Partnership Forum 

• Thematic Grants Panel 

• Strategic Employment Group 

• Objective 2 Priority 2 Board 

• Economic Partnership Funding Group 

People and Communities Thematic Forum 

• Community Engagement Sub Group 

• Workforce Human Resource Representation 

Group 

• Community Cohesion Sub Group 

Children and Young People’s Partnership 

• Early Years Development Group (under 5) 

• Children Development Group (5-13 year olds) 

• Young People Development Group (13-19 year 

olds) 

Learning Executive Thematic Forum 

• Lifelong Learning and Skills Forum 

• 14- 19 Strategic Working Group 

Health and Social Well Being Thematic Forum 

• People with Disabilities Sub Group 

• Preventing Circulatory Disease Sub Group 

• Tobacco Control Sub Group 

• Vulnerable Elderly People Sub Group 

• Health and Homelessness Steering Group 

• Older People’s Local Implementation Team 

• Mental Health Local Implementation Group 

• Learning Disability Partnership Board 

07



Introduction 

1.6 Monitoring progress 

The Community Safety Partnership will monitor 

progress against each of the Partnership’s five 

priorities by: 

• Developing annual action plans with detailed 

targets for each of the five priorities 

• Setting annual targets to monitor progress 

against the targets detailed in each priority 

• Identifying lead agencies responsible for the 

delivery of targets and key activities 

• The continuation of the Implementation Action 

Group to support the work of the Partnership’s 

working groups 

• One named member of the Community Safety 

Partnership’s steering group will be responsible 

for co-ordinating progress on each of the 

Partnership’s priorities 

• Quarterly reports will be submitted to the steering 

group on each of the annual action plans 

outlining the actions taken and the progress 

made 

• Quarterly monitoring information to be provided to 

the Local Strategic Partnership 

• The publication of an annual report detailing 

progress against the Partnership’s priorities and 

targets and the delivery of key activities 

• Twice yearly Partnership seminars to bring 

together private, public and voluntary sector 

organisations to assess progress and resolve local 

issues of concern. 

1.7 How will the Community Safety Strategy be 

resourced? 

To succeed, the Community Safety Partnership will 

require the support of a wide range of organisations. 

Many organisations will already have resources from 

their mainstream budgets focused on the priorities 

of the Partnership. External funding will be accessed 

where appropriate and available to increase the 

Partnership’s ability to deliver its objectives. 

1.8 Brief overview of the structure of the Strategy 

document 

This Strategy highlights the Community Safety 

Partnership’s strategic priorities for improving 

community safety in the borough over the next three 

years. 

The 2005-2008 Community Safety Strategy takes 

into account the views and experiences of local 

communities and reflects the socially and culturally 

diverse nature of the borough’s population. 

Following an in-depth analysis of community safety 

in the borough and consultations with local residents 

and organisations working in the borough, the 

Community Safety Partnership has identified that its 

priorities for 2005-2008 will be: 

• Reducing recorded crime 

• Increasing confidence through reassurance in 

neighbourhoods throughout the borough 

• Targeting prolific and other priority offenders 

• Reducing the impact of drugs and alcohol misuse 

in the borough 

• Strengthening the Community Safety Partnership. 

The following section provides a summary of the audit 

findings and the development of the Partnership’s 

priorities. 

08


Strategy 2005 ~ 2008 | part two 

Partnership progress 

Part 2: Partnership progress, summary 

of audit findings and development of priorities 

2.1 Partnership progress between 2002-2005 

Update on the 2002-2005 Community Safety Strategy 

Community safety target 

2001/ 

2002 

2002/ 

2003 

2003/ 

2004 

Performance against 

targets since 

2001/2002 

To reduce domestic burglary by 24% by 2005 1499 1234 964 36% reduction 

To reduce vehicle crime by 25% by 2005 2446 2595 1985 19% reduction 

To reduce the fear of crime by increasing the proportion of 

people who feel safe walking outside in the borough alone 

after dark from 47% to 55% of all residents by 2005 

Target set in 

2002-2005 

Strategy 

27% 30% Target not met 

To reverse the upward trend in deliberate fires not to exceed 

the 2001/2002 baseline for 1563 primary and secondary 

deliberate fires 

Substance misuse 

To reduce the number of drug related deaths of drug users 

released from prison by two each year 

1621 1562 1875 

8 12 8 

20% increase from 

2001/2002 baseline 

2001/2002 levels 

maintained 

To extend the drugs prevention work delivered in primary 

and secondary schools (Lancashire Education Authority) 

by working in partnership with Lancashire Council of 

Mosques to increase the number of schools, Mosques and 

Madrasses providing drug education. 

95% of Mosques and Madrasses have drugs policies in place 

and provide drug education. 

Over 1200 young people, aged between 11 and 16 years, 

benefit from this programme in any 12 month period. 

Road safety 

75% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously 

injured in road accidents to reduce the average yearly 

incidence form 36.2 to 9.5 

25% reduction in people of all ages killed or seriously 

injured in road accidents (230 per year) 

21 14 11 48% reduction 

91 81 65 29% reduction 

Partnership development 

Delivery of a regular programme of training 

for Partnership staff 

Continued development of communication and 

information systems and problem-solving approaches 

Training days have been delivered for Partnership organisations. 

Two Partnership seminars have been organised per year and 

Partnership development days have been used to increase 

partnership working. 

The development of the communications strategy has resulted in 

high profile publicity campaigns to communicate information and 

promote reassurance. 

Increased analytical support 

09




What has the Community Safety Partnership 

achieved since 2002? The delivery of the 2002-2005 

Community Safety Strategy 

Burglary 

• Since 2001/2002, there has been a 36% reduction in 

domestic burglary. 535 less burglaries were recorded by 

the police in 2003/2004 than in 2001/2002 

• 2517 residential properties belonging to Twin Valley 

Homes have received security upgrades (since 

2001/2002) 

• In 2003/2004, nine commercial premises were upgraded 

and 61 were visited by police crime prevention officers 

• In 2003/2004, Victim Support provided advice to 954 or 

98% of all burglary victims in the borough 

• To date, 20 prolific offenders have been involved in the 

Tower Project to reduce the number of burglary offenders 

re-offending 

• Since January 2004, Operation Converter has resulted 

in 585 detections of domestic burglary and the arrest of 

463 burglary offenders. 

Violent crime 

• Violent crime reported in Blackburn town centre has 

increased by 18.7% between 2002-2004. However, 

changes to the recording of crime introduced by the 

National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) have made it 

difficult to determine true changes in levels of recorded 

violent crime. 

• Between October and December 2004, Victim Support 

contacted and provided support to 52 victims of town 

centre violent crime 

• Personal safety has been promoted through the Bar U 

scheme. Two publicity campaigns have been delivered 

and 40 licensees and staff have been trained to promote 

safety practices in and around licensed premises in the 

town centre 

• The pub link radio scheme has linked people and 40 

licensed premises resulting in quicker responses 

• First all digital CCTV monitoring suite in Lancashire. 

Purchase of video recording equipment to gather 

evidence from multi-agency licensing visits. 

Vehicle crime 

• Since 2001/2002, there has been a 19% reduction in 

vehicle crime in the borough. 461 less vehicle crimes 

were recorded in 2003/2004 than in 2001/2002 

• Since 2003/2004, 15 Sting car operations have been 

used to target vehicle crime offenders 

• Publicity campaigns have been delivered in conjunction 

with Blackburn Rovers Football Club and crime prevention 

information has been delivered on match days through 

radio interviews, adverts and programmes 

• In 2003/2004, Victim Support supported 363 victims of 

vehicle crime, none of whom have been re-victimised 

• The three main town centre car parks have been 

upgraded in line with Secured Car Park standards. The 

Community Safety Partnership continues to achieve 

Secure Car Park Awards status for town centre car parks. 


• To raise public awareness of domestic abuse to increase 

confidence to report 

• A radio campaign was delivered over Christmas 2004 

on Rock FM, which resulted in 104 individuals making 

contact with Women’s Aid 

• In 2004/2005, a bus back publicity campaign was 

introduced to highlight the consequences of domestic 

abuse for victims 

• A domestic abuse strategy for the borough was launched 

in 2002 

• Four domestic abuse training sessions were delivered to 

frontline staff and managers between January and March 

2005 

• Four digital cameras are now available to support victims 

by gathering evidence of domestic abuse. 

Anti-social behaviour 

• The Council introduced the “Thrash the trash - let’s 

do it together” scheme to improve the quality of the 

borough’s environments by prosecuting those found to be 

responsible for fly tipping, fly posting and graffiti 

• Bin the Banger is a nationally recognised scheme for 

the rapid removal of abandoned vehicles in the borough. 

Since the scheme began (March 2004), 546 abandoned 

vehicles have been removed. 

• The NCH Families project is an outreach-based service, 

which has offered support to families at risk of eviction 

through anti-social behaviour 

• An anti-social behaviour co-ordinator has been in post 

since October 2002 

• Housing Market Renewal funding has been allocated 

to SMILE (Specialist Mediation in Lancashire East) to 

provide mediation for neighbour disputes in Blackburn 

with Darwen 

• Blackburn with Darwen achieved Together Action Area 

status in 2004 due to its commitment to tackling antisocial 

behaviour. This will enable the borough to build 

upon ongoing work with the support of the Home Office’s 

Anti-Social Behaviour Unit. 

10





• A Bonfire Initiative was delivered in the weeks leading up to 

Bonfire Night 

• Deliberate vehicle fires were reduced – assisted by the ‘Bin 

the Banger’ scheme 

• Fire safety sessions with children and young people have been 

delivered 

• Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Fire Safety 

Support Workers working in partnership with other agencies 

to deliver community fire safety initiatives in areas with the 

highest incidences of deliberate fires 

• During 2004/2005, 20 young people attended a new 

initiative called FLARE (Fire, Life Skills and Rescue Education). 

This course is delivered in partnership with Lancashire Fire 

and Rescue Service. It provides young people with intensive 

work experience and promotes the positive side of working in 

a disciplined uniformed team. 

Racist incidents 

• 10 training sessions were conducted and 20 agencies trained 

to encourage self-reporting and good practice recording 

procedures 

• Three media campaigns were conducted to promote and 

encourage the reporting of racist incidents and to improve the 

level of service available to victims 

• A conference was organised to improve relationships and 

the understanding of cultural/religious differences between 

secondary school pupils. 120 students attended 

• Provision of security upgrades to victims of racist incidents. 

In 2003/2004, nine security upgrades were completed and 

there was a 66% reduction in repeat victimisation 

• The Community Safety Partnership has supported the 

‘Belonging’ campaign – to unite all sectors and communities, 

and to emphasise what we have in common rather than our 

differences. 

Road safety 

• In 2003/2004, three driving skills awareness days were 

conducted and six campaigns were delivered in 2002/2003 

• Road safety education packs were launched in 25 primary 

schools throughout the borough (2003/2004) 

• School travel plan co-ordinator and road safety education 

officers were employed to deliver road safety programmes in 

all schools 

• In response to rising drink drive figures in the 17-25 age 

group, drink drive awareness sessions were delivered in the 

borough’s two colleges in the run-up to Christmas 2004 

• The North-West Regional ‘In Car Safety’ Campaign was 

launched to tackle child casualties. 


• Class A drug dealers were targeted through Operation 

Hurricane and Operation Nimrod. There were 247 

prosecutions of Class A drug dealers in 2002/2003 

and 2003/2004 

• ‘Residents Against Drugs Campaign’ resulted in the 

co-ordination of reporting and intelligence, which led 

to 26 prosecutions for the supply of Class A drugs in 

2003/2004 

• 100% of primary and secondary schools in the 

borough have provided drug prevention education and 

have implemented drug related incident management 

policies 

• An Islamic education package was delivered to all 

local mosques and educational establishments in 

partnership with Lancashire Council of Mosques 

• National Probation Service Lancashire supervised 

drug and/or alcohol related offenders who are subject 

to court orders requiring attendance on Addressing 

Substance Related Offending programmes and Drink 

Impaired Drivers programmes 

• National Probation Service Lancashire has ensured 

that sentence plans drawn up for offenders include 

targets that address substance misuse where relevant 

• National Probation Service Lancashire has put in 

place plans for offenders released on licence that 

reduce the risk of a return to substance misuse 

• The Tower Project – a multi-agency initiative has 

worked with over 20 clients whose criminality is drug 

related 

• There has been an 83% increase in persons receiving 

drug treatment from 2002/2003 to 2003/2004. 

2.2 Description of main issues and themes 

emerging from the 2004 Audit 

A summary of the key findings from the 2004 

Crime and Disorder Audit 1 illustrates that: 

• All recorded crime 

Over the last three years, recorded crime in the 

borough has risen by 7%. This compares with a 

10% increase in Lancashire as a whole. The largest 

volume crime in the borough is criminal damage, 

which accounted for 26% of total recorded crime. 

Violent crime and vehicle crime are the second 

and third largest categories in terms of volume 

accounting for 19% and 11% respectively. In 

2003/2004, Blackburn with Darwen had the fourth 

lowest rate of the number of crimes per 1000 

residents when compared with other Crime and 

Disorder Reduction Partnerships most similar to it. 

11




• Domestic burglary 

Over the last three years, the Community Safety 

Partnership has achieved a 36% reduction in domestic 

burglary, which exceeds the 24% reduction target 

set by the Partnership. The significant reductions in 

domestic burglary recorded in the borough are greater 

than the 26% reduction recorded in Lancashire as a 

whole. Between April 1 2003 and March 31 2004, 

Blackburn with Darwen recorded the fourth lowest 

rate of domestic burglary in its family of ‘most similar’ 

Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and the 

number of burglaries per 1000 residents was below 

the average recorded by other partnerships. 

• Vehicle crime 

Vehicle crime (theft of and from vehicles) has 

decreased by 19% since 2001/2002. Rates of 

recorded vehicle crime in the borough have remained 

below the average recorded for other Crime and 

Disorder Reduction Partnerships ‘most similar’ to 

Blackburn with Darwen. 

• Anti-social behaviour 

Consultation with residents and organisations in 

Blackburn with Darwen illustrated that local concerns 

around anti-social behaviour mainly centred on 

nuisance behaviour, deliberate fire setting, graffiti and 

fly tipping. 

Anti-social behaviour can be difficult to measure 

because it is frequently under-reported and often 

incidents are reported to a variety of different 

agencies. 

Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership recognises that in order to prevent 

anti-social behaviour and improve reassurance in 

neighbourhoods it needs to work together with local 

communities. 

• Substance misuse (including alcohol) 

Drug and alcohol misuse were the primary concern 

raised by local residents and organisations 

participating in the consultation for the 2004 Crime 

and Disorder Audit. 

The average rate of drug offences recorded by the 

police is higher in Blackburn with Darwen than in 

Lancashire as a whole. The number of recorded 

drugs offences per 1000 population in the borough 

exceeds that recorded by other Crime and Disorder 

Reduction Partnerships ‘most similar’ to Blackburn 

with Darwen. 

The main drug of choice for people accessing 

treatment in the borough is heroin. There are 

strong links between some drug misuse and crime, 

especially acquisitive crimes such as burglary and 

vehicle crime. 

A range of interventions have been introduced in 

Blackburn with Darwen to respond to the needs of 

individuals vulnerable to substance misuse and to 

prevent substance misuse amongst young people. 

• Public perceptions of crime and safety in the 

borough 

In Blackburn with Darwen, local residents were 

primarily concerned about illegal drugs, drugrelated 

crime and the gathering of young people 

on the streets. Crime was perceived to be less in 

outlying rural areas, though these residents were still 

concerned about crime and road safety. 

2.3 Identifying and refining the broad priority 

areas 

The findings from the 2004 Crime and Disorder Audit 

combined with consultation with local residents and 

organisations working in the borough, have identified 

a number of key community safety priorities. These 

form the basis of this Strategy. 

The Partnership’s priorities for the next three years 

were identified and agreed through the following 

process: 

• Analysis of recorded crime figures 

• Profiling of offenders, victims and vulnerable 

locations 

• Consultation with local residents and public, 

private and voluntary sector organisations working 

in the borough 

• Comparisons with Lancashire and the 14 Crime 

and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) 

‘most similar’ to Blackburn with Darwen 

• Review of national priorities, Public Service 

Agreements (national and local) and key 

performance indicators shared by organisations 

engaging with the Community Safety Partnership 

• The Partnership’s priorities around substance 

misuse are closely linked to national key 

performance indicators and the four strands of 

the national drugs strategy (availability, treatment, 

young people and communities). 

1 Copies of the Executive Summary of the 2004 Blackburn with Darwen Crime 

and Disorder Audit are available from the community safety team, Blackburn 

with Darwen Borough Council, Old Town Hall, Blackburn, BB1 7DY or see the 

contact details at the start of this document for additional contact information. 

12


Strategy 2005 ~ 2008 | part three 

Partnership priorities 

Part 3: Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership priorities for 2005-2008 

3.1 Priority 1: To reduce recorded crime in the 

borough by 2008 

Reducing crime is one of the core aims of the Community 

Safety Partnership. Crime and the fear of crime affects our 

daily lives either through direct victimisation or through the 

effects that it has on wider society, such as the provision of 

services, health, employment and the local economy. 

An analysis of available statistical data combined with public 

consultation revealed that some crime types are of more 

concern in the borough than others and these will form the 

focus of the Partnership’s work over the next three years. 

• National framework: 

This Partnership priority will be measured by the national 

Violent crime: 

Public Service Agreement One (PSA 1) . 

To reduce recorded crime in the borough by 

17.5%, as measured by the British Crime 

Survey Comparator, by 2007/2008. 

Specific crime types to be focused on will be: 

violent crime 

domestic abuse 

domestic burglary 

vehicle crime 

crimes against local businesses 

• Local targets and key activities: 

To achieve this reduction in recorded crime, the 

Partnership will introduce actions plans which will 

include the following: 

Issues Key activities Target 

Violent crime has been one of the 

offences most affected by changes in the 

recording of crime. 

Recorded incidents of violent crime have 

increased by 43% across the borough 

since 2001/2002. 

National trends also show increases in 

recorded violent crime. 

In the group of Crime and Disorder 

Reduction Partnerships against which the 

Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership is measured, levels of violent 

crime in the borough were lower than the 

average recorded by other ‘most similar’ 

partnerships. 

Violent crime in Blackburn town centre 

has increased by 18.7% in 2004. 

Violent crime (particularly that in 

association with alcohol) was prioritised 

through public consultation as an area of 

concern. 

To promote personal safety and sensible 

drinking practices through the BAR U 

publicity campaigns. 

To develop education materials for those 

people identified as being ‘at risk’ of 

becoming a victim of violent crime. 

To use anti-social behaviour legislation to 

support the implementation of the BAR U 

scheme. 

To promote sensible licensing practices 

by developing a ‘Best Bar’ scheme for the 

borough. 

To continue to co-ordinate the BAR U 

scheme and investigate the possibility of 

rolling-out this scheme borough-wide. 

To investigate the more proactive use of 

CCTV in the town centre in identifying 

patterns of behaviour and targeting 

known offenders. 

To provide crime prevention through 

environmental design by supporting the 

master planning of the town centres. 

To reduce violent crime by 

10% by 2007 

PSA 1: To reduce recorded 

crime in Blackburn with 

Darwen by 17.5% by 

2007/2008 

13



Partnership priority 1 



The Community Safety Partnership has 

adopted the term domestic abuse to 

recognise that abuse in relationships 

is not always physical and can include 

many other types of abuse such as 

emotional and financial. 

Reported incidents of domestic abuse 

have decreased by 32% (2001-2004) 

across the borough. 

Increasing confidence in the support 

available to victims of domestic abuse is 

critical to reducing the number of repeat 

incidents. 

Domestic burglary 

Review and implement the multi-agency 

domestic abuse strategy. 

Develop a comprehensive and diverse 

domestic abuse publicity campaign. 

Delivery of training programmes to 

frontline staff. 

Maintain and support the multi- agency 

domestic abuse forum to take forward 

the work of the Strategy. 

Work with Registered Social Landlords to 

increase support available to victims. 

To develop a domestic abuse education 

pack to be delivered in schools. 

National Probation Service Lancashire 

to improve services to victims with the 

appointment of women safety workers to 

work with partners. 

National Probation Service Lancashire to 

introduce a Domestic Abuse programme 

working with perpetrators. 

To reduce the percentage of 

repeat victims of domestic 

abuse over the lifetime of the 

Strategy. 


Since 2001/2002, recorded incidents 

of domestic burglary have decreased by 

36% across the borough. 

The number of domestic burglaries in 

the borough is at its lowest level in 20 

years. 

Domestic burglary has been a national 

priority over the last three years. Both 

the Police and Blackburn with Darwen 

Borough Council have met individual 

national targets to reduce it. 

The significant reductions in domestic 

burglary recorded in the borough 

are greater than the 27% reduction 

recorded for Lancashire as a whole. 

Using the Home Office methodology 

for counting the cost of crime, it is 

estimated that over the last 12 months, 

the total cost of burglary in the borough 

was £2,217,200. 

Continued targeted police activity on 

identified offenders. 

Continued engagement of prolific and 

priority offenders with the Tower Project. 

Ongoing improvements to the security of 

vulnerable residential properties through 

involvement in Housing Market Renewal. 

Research best practice for an accredited 

Private Landlords Scheme and use new 

legislation to develop a borough-wide 

protocol. 

Continue to promote the Home Watch 

scheme and to support voluntary 

community activity to address local 

burglary issues. 

To be measured by the 


through PSA 1: To reduce 

recorded crime in Blackburn 

with Darwen by 17.5% by 

2007/2008. 

14




Vehicle crime 


The number of incidents of recorded vehicle 

crime has decreased by 19% across the 

borough (2001/2002-2003/2004). 

Reductions in recorded vehicle crime are in 

line with national trends. 

Since April 2001, the number of recorded 

vehicle crimes has remained below the 

average recorded by other Crime and Disorder 

Reduction Partnerships ‘most similar’ to 

Blackburn with Darwen. 

The Home Office methodology for counting the 

costs of crime estimates that in 2003/2004, 

the total cost of all vehicle crime in the 

borough was £1,767,540. 

Use of CCTV and analysis to 

highlight hotspots. 

Target police activity on vulnerable 

streets and with vehicle crime 

offenders. 

Work in partnership to improve 

the security of town centre 

parking in Blackburn and Darwen. 

Use publicity to inform and 

educate vehicle users in how to 

prevent vehicle crime. 

Work together with Blackburn 

Rovers Football Club to reduce 

vehicle theft and damage. 



through PSA 1: To reduce 

recorded crime in Blackburn 

with Darwen by 17.5% by 

2007/2008. 

Crime against local businesses 


The level of crime against the business 

community in the borough is lower than that 

recorded by Crime and Disorder Partnerships 

‘most similar’ to Blackburn with Darwen. 

Businesses identified that the crimes that 

affected them the most were burglaries, 

vandalism and theft. 

Anti-social behaviour also impacted on local 

businesses and was more likely to affect 

businesses than crime. 

The Lancashire Police Authority and 

Government Office North West have identified 

that the links between Community Safety 

Partnerships and local businesses need 

developing further. 

Develop links between the 

business community in Blackburn 

with Darwen and the Community 

Safety Partnership. 

Partnership staff to attend 

quarterly business forum 

meetings to work with businesses 

to develop local initiatives. 



through PSA 1. 

The divisional commander, Eastern Division Lancashire Constabulary, will be responsible 

for co-ordinating the delivery of Priority One. 

15




• Enforcement - Delivering earlier interventions to 

tackle repeat offending. 

• Resettlement - Taking a proactive approach to 

breaking the cycle of repeated anti-social behaviour 

by reducing related issues such as homelessness. 

Anti-social behaviour means different things to different 

people. Anti-social behaviour occurs when: 

3.2 Priority 2: Increasing confidence 

through reassurance in neighbourhoods 

throughout the borough. 

There are a number of actions and behaviours, whilst 

not always criminal, that have a direct impact on quality 

of life in the borough. 

This priority is about those issues that cause people the 

greatest concern and which impact on their day-to-day 

lives. The Community Safety Partnership has consulted 

locally to identify those issues that cause residents the 

most concern. 

Approach 


works in partnership with local communities to achieve 

results and acknowledges that sometimes there is no 

simple solution to anti-social behaviour. The Partnership 

has responded by implementing a range of actions. 

In line with Government policy and recognised ‘good 

practice’, Blackburn with Darwen Community Safety 

Partnership is taking a three-strand approach to tackling 

anti-social behaviour: 

• Prevention - Promoting a cohesive physical and 

social environment to minimise the likelihood of antisocial 

behaviour occurring in the first place. 

A person has acted in a manner that caused 

or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or 

distress to one or more persons not of the same 

household as themselves. 

It is behaviour which shows itself in many ways in 

different locations, but the effects of each incident are 

immediate, real and personal. 

The Home Office currently classifies anti-social behaviour 

into four categories: 

1. Misuse of public space 

2. Disregard for communities/personal well-being 

3. Acts directed at people (refers to the intimidation 

and harassment of individuals) 

4. Environmental damage 


This Partnership priority will be measured by national 

Public Service Agreement Two (PSA 2): 

Reassure the public by reducing the fear of crime 

and anti-social behaviour, and building confidence 

in the criminal justice system without compromising 

fairness. 


To achieve this, the Partnership will introduce action 

plans which will include the following: 

Misuse of public space 


Abandoned vehicles 

Reductions in the number of deliberate 

vehicle fires over the last three years 

have largely been achieved by the rapid 

removal of abandoned vehicles through 

the ‘Bin the Banger’ scheme. 

The Partnership recognises that an 

increase in the number of abandoned 

vehicles could lead to increases 

in the number of vehicle fires and 

acknowledges the impact of deliberate 

fires on neighbourhoods and the quality 

of life of local residents. 

The continuation of the ‘Bin the Banger’ 

scheme to remove abandoned vehicles 

to prevent further vehicle fires. 

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s 

Community Fire Safety Support Workers 

to work in partnership with other 

agencies to deliver community fire safety 

initiatives in areas with the highest 

incidences of deliberate vehicle fires. 

To reduce deliberate vehicle 

fires by 7% by 2008. 

16




Misuse of public space continued 



Recorded incidents of deliberate secondary 

fires (outdoor, refuse and derelict buildings) 

have increased by 29% across the borough 

since 2001/2002. 

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service 

report more cases of deliberate fires in 

Blackburn with Darwen than the average 

for Lancashire as a whole. 

The term deliberate fire setting is used 

instead of arson to cover wider issues of 

anti-social behaviour, such as setting fire 

to rubbish on wasteland, which are not 

covered under the legal definition of the 

offence of arson. 

Analysis shows that some groups of 

residents are more at risk of accidental 

dwelling fires than others. 

The most prevalent type of accidental 

dwelling fire usually starts in the kitchen 

and those who are most at risk are the 

elderly, young people and those living in 

rented accommodation. 

Sex working 

Working with all sex workers, including 

street sex workers, working in residential 

areas. 

Target hotspot wards with Lancashire Fire 

and Rescue Service community staff. 

Deliver the Community Safety Partnership’s 

initiative FLARE (Fire Life Skills And Rescue 

Education) for young people aged 12-17 

years, who have been identified to be ‘at 

risk’ of offending. 

To prevent accidental dwelling fires, 

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, in 

partnership with other organisations, will 

undertake home visits, target high risk 

groups and will provide advice, education 

and public displays. 

Develop further an outreach service, which 

will provide support to sex workers to exit 

the lifestyle. 

To work with the Drug and Alcohol Action 

Team to enable access to treatment and 

social and health support. 

Reduce deliberate building fires 

by 8%. 

Reduce deliberate fires by 4%. 

Reduce deliberate secondary 

fires by 5%. 

Reduce accidental dwelling fires 

by 18%. 

To deliver outreach work to 

support individuals working 

in the sex industry to exit the 

lifestyle. 

Disregard for communities/personal wellbeing 


Nuisance behaviour 

Anti-social behaviour can take 

on many forms and the effects 

of each incident on communities 

and residents can be immediate, 

real and personal. 

The Partnership is piloting the 

Together Action Area scheme 

with the Anti-Social Behaviour 

Unit at the Home Office to 

identify problems and work 

with communities to develop 

solutions. 

Together Action Area activity: 

Investigate and action 25 cases over the next 

12 months. 

Deliver ‘It’s Your Call’ campaign. 

Increase the use of CCTV evidence gathering for 

victims and witnesses. 

Develop a more comprehensive monitoring and 

response system. 

Increased awareness of the Partnership’s 

response to anti-social behaviour. 

To improve community safety 

by reducing the percentage 

of people saying that crime 

and anti-social behaviour is a 

problem in their local area. 

17




Acts directed at people 


Race and hate crime and harassment 

The number of reported incidents 

of race and hate crime has 

decreased by 20% between 

2001/2002 and 2003/2004. 

Improvements in the recording 

of racial and hate incidents 

continue to be implemented in 

the borough. 

The Community Safety 

Partnership remains committed 

to improving reporting processes 

and standards of satisfaction for 

those people who are victims of 

racial and hate crime. 


Partnership has supported the 

‘Belonging’ campaign, which 

was launched in the borough in 

January 2004. 

Police to call all victims of hate crime within a 

month of the incident taking place to give them 

an update on their case (action to be carried 

out by volunteers). 

Achieve Lancashire Constabulary’s target of a 

50% detection rate for racially motivated violent 

crime. 

Arrange an event for the Independent Review 

Panel, to review and recommend changes to 

reporting, investigation and support procedures 

for victims of race crime. 

To increase the number of reporting centres 

over the three-year period of the 2005-2008 

Strategy by 20 and continue to retrain staff at 

current reporting centres. 

To increase the level of 

satisfaction with services 

received by victims of race 

crime from 53.3% to 75% by 

2008. 

Environmental damage 


Graffiti and litter 

Graffiti, litter and fly tipping 

can have detrimental 

effects on the health and 

social well-being of local 

neighbourhoods. 

The visible presence of 

graffiti and litter impacts on 

how people perceive the 

places where they live. 

Over the last three years, 

the number of complaints 

received by the Council’s 

Neighbourhood services 

section has increased 

following proactive work. 

Improved reporting 

structures and quicker 

response times have 

resulted through the 

introduction of the ‘Thrash 

the Trash’ scheme. 

To be delivered through the ‘Thrash the Trash’ 

scheme: 

Education: 

Increase the number of awareness sessions in local 

schools. 

Increase the number of talks delivered to community 

groups, particularly those working with young people. 

Operational issues: 

Increase the number of warnings and prosecutions 

for litter dropping and fly tipping. 

Increase the number of new and replacement litter 

bins in response to ‘Thrash the Trash’. 

To improve community safety 

by reducing the percentage 

of people saying that crime 

and anti-social behaviour is a 

problem in their local area. 

18




Road Safety 

Road safety has been prioritised by the Community Safety Partnership as everyone either uses or is dependent on services 

delivered through road transport. The road infrastructure exists to ensure people can travel easily and safely as they go about 

their daily lives. Criminal or irresponsible and dangerous behaviour on roads and car parks does, at the very least affect the 

quality of people’s lives and can, at worst, result in death or serious injury. 


Road safety 

Over the last three years, 

the Lancashire Road Safety 

Partnership has identified 

and responded to community 

concerns around road safety 

and has implemented Home 

Zones and traffic calming. 

Targets for road safety are 

complementary to those of 

the Lancashire Road Safety 

Partnership. 

Participate with the Lancashire Road Safety 

Partnership to address road safety through a 

multi-agency approach. 

Continued use of speed enforcement through 

a combination of fixed and mobile sites, where 

speed and collisions are a known problem to 

reduce casualties. 

Maintain child pedestrian skills training. 

Introduce training to educate motorcycle riders. 

National Probation Service Lancashire to 

supervise offenders subject to court orders with a 

requirement of attendance on the Drink Impaired 

Drivers programme. 

To reduce the number of fatal and 

serious child casualties by 75%. 

To reduce the number of fatal and 

serious casualties by 60%. 

To achieve a 31% reduction in all 

casualties. 

Victims and witnesses 

The Community Safety Partnership has been working with the Lancashire Criminal Justice Board as part of national initiatives to 

improve the care and support available to victims and witnessess. 


Victims and witnesses 

Improving confidence in the 

criminal justice system is a 

national and local priority. 

Providing support to victims 

and witnesses is critical. The 


is committed to improving the 

support available to victims and 

witnesses at what is often a 

difficult time. 

Increase people’s knowledge of the range 

of support services available to victims 

and witnesses. 

Increase the use of CCTV evidence 

gathering for victims and witnesses of 

anti-social behaviour. 

Develop and distribute reassurance 

packages for victims and witnesses. 

To promote Crimestoppers as an 

anonymous way of reporting crime. 

Increase the number of Crimestoppers 

calls for Blackburn with Darwen. 

Improve the experience of victims and 

witnesses before, during and after court. 

The executive director - regeneration, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, will be 

responsible for co-ordinating the delivery of Priority Two 

19




3.3 Priority 3: To target prolific and other 

priority offenders 

The Community Safety Partnership will focus on prolific 

and other priority offenders, whose criminal and 

anti-social behaviour causes the most harm to our 

communities. 

The introduction of the national Prolific and Other 

Priority Offenders Strategy on April 1 2004 placed 

responsibilities on the Community Safety Partnership 

to address the issue of high volume offenders and the 

harm that they cause to local communities. 

The Prolific and Other Priority Offenders Strategy has 

three central strands: 

• Prevent and deter: Engages children and young 

people who are identified as facing the greatest risk 

of becoming involved in crime. 

• Catch and convict: Identifies those individuals 

whose offending causes the most harm to their 

communities. 

• Rehabilitate and re-settle: Involves the intensive 

supervision of offenders who are released from 

prison on licence or are the subject of a community 

sentence and are deemed to be priority offenders. 

All organisations are required to work together to 

offer multi-agency support and interventions to 

prevent further offending. 



Public Service Agreement Three (PSA 3): 

Improve the delivery of justice by increasing the 

number of crimes for which an offender is brought to 

justice by 1.25 million by 2007/2008 


To achieve this, the Partnership will introduce action 

plans which will include the following: 




Nationally, Blackburn with 

Darwen has the second 

highest number of young 

people under the age of 19 

years as a percentage of the 

overall population. 

In 2001, people under the 

age of 24 accounted for 

37% of the borough’s total 

population. 

People aged between 10- 

17 years accounted for 

13% of the borough’s total 

population. 

Findings from the 2004 

Crime and Disorder Audit 

showed that young people are 

concerned about community 

safety and statistically, young 

people are at a higher risk of 

becoming a victim of crime 

than adults. 

To monitor progress of all the young people identified 

through the prevent and deter strategy on a monthly 

basis. 

To integrate the prevent and deter strategy into the 

borough’s plans for integrated children’s services. 

Investigate the development of a Youth Inclusion and 

Support Panel to coordinate all interventions for young 

people and their families. 

Encourage the development of appropriate activities to 

support young people as both victims and offenders of 

crime and anti-social behaviour. 

To increase the number of 

young people engaging in 

positive targeted activities. 

To reduce the seriousness 

and frequency of offending 

by young people. 

20








Partnership continues to identify 

the number of prolific and other 

priority offenders, who are 

committing crime and/or antisocial 

behaviour in the borough. 

Reassure the community with 

positive targeting of those 

identified as prolific and other 

priority offenders and by 

arresting those identified and by 

bringing them before the courts. 

Prolific and other priority offenders in the borough will be 

identified. 

All prolific and other priority offenders will receive warning 

letters alerting them that they are being targeted by the 

police and partner agencies. 

Ensure full compliance with both police and court bail/ 

curfew conditions. 

To work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to 

ensure greater conviction rates at court. 

Swift enforcement for breaches. 

Regular reviews of prolific and other priority offenders 

to ensure accurate targeting and to reduce crime and 

offending. 

To increase the number of 

identified prolific and other 

priority offenders brought 

to justice and convicted of 

offences. 

To deter future offending 

due to intensive targeting. 

To promote alternative 

interventions to address 

the causes of criminal 

behaviour, for example the 

delivery of drug treatment 

programmes. 




Reassure the community 

that prolific and other priority 

offenders released from prison 

and other institutions are 

identified and an appropriate 

action plan is put in place 

Continue to support people released from prison through 

the Drug Intervention Programme and ensure links are 

provided to social support services such as housing/ 

accommodation providers, education / training and 

employment services. 

National Probation Service-Lancashire to: 

Work closely and share information with the police and 

other agencies in monitoring prolific and other priority 

offenders. 

Attend review meetings. 

Engage in sentence planning processes in prisons. 

Enforce compliance with licences and court orders and take 

breach action as required. 

Link individual offenders to appropriate resources. 

Undertake offence focussed work with individuals. 

Promote the use of community orders for prolific and other 

priority offenders as opposed to short custodial sentences 

whenever appropriate. 

40 clients involved in 

the Drug Intervention 

Programme (may include 

prolific and other priority 

offenders) to enter 

treatment via the criminal 

justice system. 

To reduce the frequency 

and seriousness of reoffending 

by the targeted 

group. 

The assistant chief officer, National Probation Service - Lancashire, will be responsible for 

co-ordinating the delivery of Priority Three. 

21




3.4 Priority 4: To reduce the impact of drugs 

and alcohol misuse by 2007/2008 

Public consultation undertaken as part of the 2004 

Crime and Disorder Audit revealed that substance 

misuse and drugs were identified as the primary 

concern of the majority of local residents consulted. 


recognises the impact that substance misuse 

(including alcohol misuse) has on the borough, 

particularly its impact on crime. The Partnership also 

acknowledges the effects that substance misuse has 

on those misusing drugs, such as the impact on their 

health, personal relationships, housing, employment, 

education and training. 

• Approach 

Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain – The 

Government’s Ten-Year Strategy for Tackling Drug 

Misuse was introduced in April 1998 and established 

a vision of a ‘healthy and confident society, 

increasingly free from the harm caused by the misuse 

of drugs’. 

Current responses to substance misuse are 

underpinned by a combined approach of 

enforcement, prevention and treatment and are 

structured around four key objectives: 

• To reduce the availability of illegal drugs on our 

streets, 

• To enable people with drug problems to overcome 

them through treatment, 

• To help young people resist drug misuse in order 

to achieve their full potential in society, and 

• To protect our communities from drug-related 

anti-social or criminal behaviour (links to 

criminal justice provisions, for example the Drug 

Intervention Programme). 

The Updated National Drugs Strategy (2002) sets out 

a range of policies and interventions which focus on: 

• the most harmful drugs, 

• the most damaged communities, and 

• individuals whose substance misuse, complex 

social and psychological problems and chaotic 

lifestyles are most harmful to themselves and 

others. 

• National framework 


Public Service Agreement Four (PSA 4): 

Reduce the harm caused by illegal drugs 

including substantially increasing the number 

of drug misusing offenders entering treatment 

through the criminal justice system. 

22




• Local targets and key activities 



and drugs were 

the primary 

concern raised 

by local residents 

and organisations 

participating in the 

consultation for 

the 2004 Crime 

and Disorder Audit. 

The average rate 

of drug offences 

recorded by the 

police is higher 

in Blackburn with 

Darwen than in 

Lancashire as a 

whole. 

The number of 

recorded drugs 

offences per 1000 

population in the 

borough exceeds 

that recorded by 

other Crime and 

Disorder Reduction 

Partnerships 

‘most similar’ to 

Blackburn with 

Darwen. 

The main drug 

of choice for 

people accessing 

treatment in the 

borough is heroin. 

A range of 

interventions have 

been introduced 

in Blackburn with 

Darwen to respond 

to the needs 

of individuals 

vulnerable to 

substance misuse 

and to prevent 

substance misuse 

amongst young 

people. 

Availability / 

Supply 

Communities 

Treatment 

Young people 

Continued targeting of Class A drug dealers and 

identified locations through specific police activity to 

disrupt the illegal drugs market. 

The implementation of the Drug Intervention 

Programme in Blackburn with Darwen aims to: 

Ensure there is capacity to effectively manage 

referrals from prisons, criminal justice agencies and 

treatment services. 

Ensure there is effective inter-agency information 

exchange to inform continuity of care. 

Increase the number of clients entering treatment 

(Tiers 3/4). 

Increase the numbers of clients successfully 

completing treatment. 

Increase the number of people who participate in 

helping to tackle drug problems through volunteering. 

The delivery of the Adult Treatment Plan to ensure 

better access to treatment services. 

Increase capacity in shared care services by 

commissioning Nationally Enhanced Services through 

primary care and by making sure that core services 

work more effectively together. 

This links to other core treatment services and the 

delivery of the Drug Intervention Programme. 

To ensure that all young people receive appropriate, 

relevant and high quality drug education, in line with 

Department for Education and Skills guidance, the 

National Healthy Schools Programme and other 

relevant guidance in a comprehensive range of 

educational settings. 

To ensure that the most vulnerable young people 

receive positive, targeted support – including 

harm reduction information and education; early 

intervention and, where necessary, continuing support 

– to prevent problem drug use. 

To increase the numbers of young people 

experiencing drug and drug-related problems who 

access and are retained in drug services. 

To ensure that any young person’s transfer to adult 

services is done only where necessary and that 

transitional arrangements are developed for the 

benefits of the young person. 

To increase the number of Class A drug 

dealers brought to justice. 

Co-ordination systems in place to manage 

individual cases. 

Development of information sharing protocols 

between service providers. 

140 clients from Blackburn with Darwen to 

enter treatment. 

35% of clients entering treatment from the 

borough to successfully complete treatment. 

20 individuals from the borough to participate 

in helping to tackle drug problems through 

volunteering. 

Increase the number in treatment from 765 

clients to 985 by 2008. 

Increase the number of clients retained in 

treatment for more than 12 weeks from 380 to 

640 by 2008. 

100% of schools, including Islamic Schools 

and Madrassas, to have a drug education and 

incident management policy. 

85% of schools to have attained Healthy School 

Status. 

100% of Children and Young Peoples’ services 

to have at least one member of staff who has 

received at least basic drugs training. 

Implement screening processes in Children and 

Young Peoples’ services to identify needs and 

implement a workforce training programme for 

Children and Young People’s service staff to 

ensure that those needs are met. 

To increase the numbers of young people 

receiving clinical treatment for problem drug use 

to 30 during 2005/06 and to 40 by 2008. 

For 100% of these young people to be retained 

in treatment for more than 12 weeks. 

100% of young people to have had their care 

plans reviewed and future actions planned at 

least three months before their 18th birthday. 

The director of commissioning, modernisation and strategic development from Blackburn with Darwen 

Primary Care Trust will be responsible for co-ordinating the delivery of Priority Four. 

23




3.5 Priority 5: Strengthening the Community 

Safety Partnership 

One of the main aims of the Crime and Disorder 

Act 1998 (later amended by the Police Reform 

Act 2002) is to ensure that reducing crime and 

disorder and improving community safety become 

an integral part of all of our daily activities. In order 

to achieve this, we all - public, private and voluntary 

organisations and communities - need to be able to 

take responsibility and work together to make the 

borough a safer place. One way that the Community 

Safety Partnership can develop itself further is 

through the national framework outlined below. 

• National framework 


Public Service Agreement Six (PSA 6): 

Increase voluntary and community engagement, 

especially amongst those at risk of social 

exclusion. 

• Local targets and key activities 

The local activities detailed below are some of what the Partnership would like to deliver over the next three years. 

Issues 

Continued engagement with the Local Strategic 

Partnership and its priority partnerships. 

To further develop Police and Communities Together 

(PACT) and the Community Safety Network for local 

communities. 

To update the Community Safety Partnership’s media 

strategy. 

Two Partnership seminars to be delivered for partner 

agencies each year. 

Needs analysis of training including the delivery of 

problem-solving training. 

Mainstreaming community safety throughout services 

by implementing Section 17 of the 1998 Crime and 

Disorder Act (later amended by the Police Reform Act 

2002). 

The continued development of information systems, 

analysis, evaluation and information sharing across all 

partnership organisations. 

To complete Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership 

(CDRP) self- assessment and improvement planning. 

Target 

Delivery of a regular programme of training for partnership staff 

throughout the lifetime of the Strategy. 

To increase the number of people involved in community safety 

activity making the borough a safer place. 

The chief officer, Blackburn with Darwen Council for Voluntary Services, will be responsible for 

co-ordinating the delivery of Priority Five. 

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Key contacts 

Information, advice and confidential help is available from any of the following: 

Reporting all crimes and incidents 

In an emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dial 999 

For non-emergencies - Blackburn & Darwen Police . . . . . (01254) 51212 or 0845 1253545 

If you have any information about a crime, call Crimestoppers . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 555 111 

Your call is free, you don’t have to give your name and you may receive a reward 

Support for Victims/Witnesses 

Blackburn Victim Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 680442 

Witness Service - Advise about being a witness in court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 265305 

Domestic Abuse 

Women’s Aid - Confidential support & advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 260265 

The WISH Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 55111 

Racial Harassment 

Racial Equality Council - Confidential advice and support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 261924 

Drug or Alcohol Problems 

East Lancashire Drug Services - General support and advice . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 680520 

Lifeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 677493 

Community Alcohol Team - Alcohol related support and advice . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 677773 

National Drugs Helpline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0800 776600 (24hrs) 

Needle Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 263525 

Community Drugs Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 22620 

Anti-Social Behaviour 

Young People 

It’s your call hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0845 605 2222 

Night Safe - Facing homelessness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 587687 

The Information Shop – General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 661100 

Youthworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 265163 

Connexions Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 685120 

Youth Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0800 511111 

Youth Offending Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 299800 

Blackburn North East 

Community beat officer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 353575 

Neighbourhood coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 585285 

Police community support officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 353575 

Blackburn North West 




Blackburn South East 




Blackburn South West 


Neighbourhood coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 585631 


Darwen and Rural 


Neighbourhood coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 585270 

Police community support officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01254) 353828

Community Safety Strategy - Safer Lancashire

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