It's your shout on community safety

With headline horror stories such as the man hacked to death by an axe-wielder on a affluent London street, it's no wonder we're all so terrified.

There are constant calls for more bobbies on our streets. And a surge in crimes such as ID fraud and bogus callers robbing the elderly of their pensions, leaves us quaking in our boots.

But what is being done about it? An awful lot in South Worcestershire, actually.

The South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership formed two years ago - and has been busy working towards safer communities ever since.

Zoe Cookson, programme manager for the Partnership, said we may be panicking unduly.

"We did an audit which shows an overall 12 per cent reduction in all recorded crime in 2004 in South Worcestershire," she explained.

"Despite the relatively low levels of crime, our consultation with residents found a disproportionately high level of fear of crime."

She said youths hanging around street corners were making us nervous, and even though they may be harmless, we're still convinced they will mug us if we look at them the wrong way.

So reassurance that our streets are safe is one of four major areas the Partnership will tackle in its new three-year strategy. The others are cutting crime, anti-social behaviour and drug and alcohol abuse.

Now the Partnership, which sees councils, police, firefighters, health and drug workers and the probation service working together, wants South Worcestershire people to help it establish what needs to be done and how.

"We want people to give us ideas, say on how to reduce underage drinking and to tell us if there's any issues we may have missed," said Tracy Reck, Worcester City Community Safety Officer for the partnership.

"One agency trying to reduce crime individually is one thing, but by working in partnership we can create a much bigger reaction and the residents of South Worcestershire get a better return on their tax money."

How the Partnership has helped already:

Some residents felt threatened by youngsters skate-boarding down the high street, so the Partnership bought a mobile skating ramp and takes it around the county - proving a real hit, attracting hundreds of children.

Estates in Worcester and Malvern have new youth shelters to distract bored youths, and police work with them, to explain why their previous behaviour may intimidate some people.

Part of a Malvern park was a hot spot for drug-takers, so landscapers pulled down a wall and planted flowers - since then, not a single abandoned syringe has been unearthed.

Worcester and Malvern Women's Aid helpline has been set up for victims of domestic crime.

Wychavon Safe and Sound scheme has been set up, bringing together the district council, Age Concern, Old People's Forum, Neighbourhood Watch and Victim Support, and sees vulnerable pensioners having security systems fitted in their homes.

To suggest ways of fighting crime, or to express your fears over safety in the community, you can call:

Jenny Lawrence, community safety co-ordinator for Malvern Hills, on 01684 862443;

Tracy Reck, community safety co-ordinator for Worcester City,

on 01905 722067;

David Hemming, Wychavon's community safety co-ordinator on 01386 565301.

IN FIGURES: South Worcestershire crime

OWN A FORD FIESTA? YOU'RE POPULAR WITH THE THIEVES...

Car theft in South Worcestershire is most common between 6pm and 6am.

Car thieves' preferred loot is a Ford Fiesta, the older the registration the better, as they have less security features and are easier to break into.

The rest of the county's top 10 stolen cars are: Ford Escort, Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Astra, Vauxhall Nova, Peugeot 106, Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa, Vauxhall Cavalier, Ford Mondeo.

The top 10 items stolen from cars in South Worcestershire are: vehicle parts, personal items, stereos, mobile phones, cash, documents, clothing, computers, fuel and power tools.

Serious heroin addicts can spend up to £100 a day, and the preferred crime in South Worcestershire to fund the habit is shoplifting.

South Worcestershire has 1,400 drug addicts - although the figure could be higher, as many keep their addictions a secret.

In 2003, there were almost twice as many drug-related crimes (289) in Worcester than the combined number in Malvern and Wychavon (161).

Domestic violence is mostly committed in socially deprived areas of Worcester, Evesham and Malvern, with hot spots in Pickersleigh, Malvern and Westlands in Droitwich.

In South Worcestershire, 40 per cent of the victims of domestic abuse end up being hit again and reporting it to police.