east dorset news - Dorsetforyou.com

6DORSET NEWS SUMMER 2004MAKING COMMUNITIES SAFERACTION ON VIOLENCEDomestic violence accountedfor one in five of allviolent crimes, according tothe government, whichannounced an overhaul ofdomestic violence legislationin June.The Domestic Violence, Crimeand Victims Bill will use £4m fromthe proceeds of crime to set up avictims’ fund. It includes measuresto make offenders pay morecompensation to victims, makesbreaching a non-molestation orderpunishable by up to five years inprison and gives stronger powers tocourts to impose restraining orderswhen necessary.In Dorset, Crime and DisorderReduction Partnerships havefunded a Domestic Violence Officerwho is hosted by the CountyCouncil.Nicola Pengelly, who startedwork in May, provides a main pointof contact between all agenciesinvolved in tackling domesticviolence across the county,promoting best practice, helpingwith fund-raising and co-ordinatinga county wide strategy.She says, “Anyone canexperience domestic violence – itcan happen in all kinds ofrelationships and for any reason.“People suffer domestic violenceregardless of their social group,class, age, race or sexuality. Theviolence can take many forms fromphysical assault and sexual abuseto psychological abuse such asthreats and criticism.“Typically, the abuse gets worseover time and involves theperpetrator exercising some form ofcontrol over the victim.”Crime and Disorder ReductionPartnerships include the CountyCouncil, District and BoroughCouncils, Police, Health and FireAuthorities, and there are manyagencies that support the victims.Helping hand: domestic violence can happen regardless of social group, class, age or raceHow the council is performing for youTargetOutcomeTo reduce the re-offending rate ofyoung offenders by 7% to 26.5%by the end of 2005.6% annual reduction in the totalnumber of people killed orseriously injured in roadaccidents.6% annual reduction in thenumber of children aged up to 15who are killed or seriously injuredin road accidents.Measured at end 2003, the reoffendingrate was 26.8%.Performance to date has beengood.The number reduced from 351 to298 in 2003. This represents a 15%reduction in accidents against atarget of 6%.The number reduced from 26 to 21in 2003, representing a 19%reduction in accidents against atarget of 6%.One-stop website works for youWork continues at a fast pace onthe creation of a one-stop-shopDorset website, due to belaunched to the public in Octoberthis year.Dorset For You is a joint websitebringing together a wealth ofinformation for the public from allthe councils in Dorset.In addition to this, Dorset For Youwill also enable people to conduct24-hour on-line transactions withall the councils involved.This will range from renewing alibrary book or paying council taxthrough to registering a faultystreet light, making a planningapplication or applying for a jobon-line.The possibilities are endless, withhundreds of services eager todevelop this new form of customerrelationship.The first stage of the project dealswith the large rural area of thecounty. But it is planned to widenlinks to the unitary authorities ofPoole and Bournemouth as well aspolice, fire, health and manyothers at town and parish level.On-line services are not the onlysolution for our customers, butthey can complement both the useof the telephone or personal visits.They are designed to be a helpfulalternative for people living in themore rural areas of the county, aswell as for those who are notalways able to conduct theirbusiness with the council duringthe standard working day.Watch the next edition of YourDorset for more news on DorsetFor You.20mph zoneslashes childcasualtiesStay safe: the 20mph zoneThe number of children killed andinjured on Dorset’s roads is beingreduced thanks to safety schemes likethis one in Sherborne.The Government’s road safetystrategy, Tomorrow’s Roads – Saferfor Everyone, set a target to halve thenumber of children killed or seriouslyinjured by 2010.The Sherborne 20mph zonescheme to reduce child casualtieswas awarded government funding inDecember 2000 as part of a range ofinitiatives to support this target.The scheme is in a denselypopulated residential area of the townwith a local primary school at thecentre and a secondary school on thenorthern edge.Some 1,600 pupils attend theschools and research showed that,over five years, 41% of casualtieswere pedestrians or cyclists agedbetween 0-16.In the two years following thelaunch of the scheme there has beena 72% reduction in child pedestrian/cyclist casualties.Other benefits to the communityinclude traffic speeds reduced by anaverage of 5mph and a safer andmore pleasant environment. This,together with School Travel Plans,has contributed to an increase of 21%in the numbers of pupils walking to thelocal schools and a decrease of 14%in those arriving by car at the primaryschool.Smoother path forbuilding applicationsAll the building control applications fromDorset County Council’s PropertyManagement Division are now beinghandled by West Dorset District Council.The applications typically deal withalterations in schools, libraries and socialhealth and care properties.Previously, each district council woulddeal with County Council applicationsconcerning its own patch, but now allCounty Council schemes go straight toWest Dorset District Council for approvaland then the local district council carriesout the site inspection.On average processing eachapplication is taking two weeks less sincethe change was made.