Name: Police Support

Start date: 2003/04

End date: 2005/06

Project Lead: SGT Claire Arden

Lead Organisation: West Midlands Police  

Project description / summary: The Police Support Project was set up to provide 180 additional uniformed Police foot patrols in the WEHM area, over its 18 month lifetime between the period September 2003  and March 2005. These were to cover for operational abstractions encountered by the Police in the area, thereby offering a visible and reassuring presence for residents, whilst at the same time contributing towards reducing the fear of crime and increasing community satisfaction and hence quality of life.

The project benefitted from having a range of complementary projects within the Crime Theme to support its work such as the Safety in the Home Initiative, River Walk Fencing, the Professional Witnesses Project and the Neighbourhood Wardens.

Quantitative data for the project revealed that it had considerably exceeded its lifetime output target of providing 180 extra police uniformed patrols. As of December 2004, the project had provided 253 extra police uniformed patrols, which represented an extra 73 patrols across the WEHM area.

Data from West Midlands Police has revealed that whilst the project and the additional patrols have been in operation the level of crime offences, in particular in relation to vehicle offences, theft of motor vehicle, burglary and actual bodily harm, have all decreased.

Funds Granted: £ 101,907.29