Thanet named as pioneer area for crime and justice

Thanet in Kent is one of 60 areas across the country and the only one in Kent to sign up to become a new neighbourhood crime and justice pioneer area.

This is in recognition of the excellent progress made by the Thanet Community Safety Partnership in recent months and its ability to try new initiatives and reduce crime. Thanet has so far seen a reduction of crime of 5% this year.

Each area will appoint a dedicated person, a Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Coordinator, to spearhead new proposals to tackle crime further and improve police and council relations with local people. Thanets coordinator will be the councils existing Community Safety Manager, Mark Richardson.

Mark Richardson from the Thanet Community Safety Partnership said: "This is excellent news for Thanet. Not only is the area being recognised as somewhere that is at the forefront of community safety and crime reduction, but also being a pioneer area will mean that there will be additional funding available, which could be used to provide additional police patrols, more CCTV operators in the control room. We will be using the funding to deliver more of what residents want and have been telling us they want over the past year."

Chief Inspector Rob Vinson, District Commander, added: "The police and council have an excellent working relationship, along with their partner agencies, that is really starting to get results and improve the area. The announcement that Thanet will be a Crime and Justice Pioneer Area is great news in that it will provide the support that officers need to make a difference and reduce crime."

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: I am grateful to Thanet Community Safety Partnership for signing up to take action to open up the criminal justice system, so that the public can see the tough consequences for those that break the law and also driving forward the action needed so that the public know what their rights are from the police and other agencies when they are suffering crime and anti-social behaviour. The new neighbourhood crime and justice coordinators will be a dedicated resource to act on the publics behalf to make sure that justice is done and seen to be done in their local communities.

ENDS