Crime prevention in Brighton & Hove

Written by Paul Elgood and published in Latest 7 Magazine on Thu 24th Mar 2005

Over the last year, one of the most enjoyable jobs I've been doing as a City Councillor is Chairing the Palmeira & Adelaide Local Action Team. These are meetings I actually look forward to! Local Action Teams have been established by the Home Office to bring together residents with the Police, Council and other agencies such as those combating anti-social behaviour and street drinking.

I was asked to Chair the team by the local (and I must say highly effective) Resident's Association and with their commitment we are starting to make good progress. I must say the Police have been first class, as too have the anti-social behaviour team and the council officers who attend. Together we have identified a series of concerns to residents in the Palmeira Square area which range from anti-social behaviour, street drinking, light night fireworks and noise. Palmeira Square is a city centre urban open space which faces numerous serious issues. There was, of course, a tragic murder there last year. Drugs too have been problems in the past, as has street drinking. We are also told that we are a burglary hotspot too. Progress in addressing these issues has been good and the Police have stepped up patrols to increase visibility in the area, this seems to have helped. There is still much work to be done but we've made a good start and all concerned are committed to seeing the project achieve its aims. In my experience at the Council this is one of the first times I've seen partnership working really well, and most importantly with the residents themselves leading the process. Its true what they say that from small acorns great oaks can grow as I think this kind of approach will help to tackle some of the many community and social issues in this area. Bringing people together really is the first step in achieving a solution.