CREW – cleaner, safer neighbourhoods
If the environment is run down and there is lots of litter, broken windows and graffiti for example, it tends to increase people’s fear of crime. The idea of a CREW is for lots of local agencies, including the police, local council and voluntary organisations to work together to improve the environment, target offenders and put in place crime prevention techniques to help local people feel safer.
During a typical CREW lots of activities are carried out to reduce crime and improve the environment, including:
Crime
High visibility neighbourhood patrols, checks on people who are on bail and visits to people who could be at risk.
Anti-social behaviour
- Checks on school truants and anti-social behaviour patrols.
- Checks on sales of alcohol, cigarettes and fireworks to underage children.
The environment
- People on Community Service Orders used to clear up litter, fly posters and graffiti.
- Targeted refuse collections for larger bulky items and removal of abandoned vehicles.
Advice and information
A wide range of agencies on hand to give advice on housing issues, drugs or health problems, fire safety and crime prevention.
Help us keep your area safe and clean
Although CREWs only last for one week, with the help of local people the results can be felt for months. It’s an opportunity for communities to start afresh with a clean slate, but the area will soon go back to how it was if people don’t work together.
Preventing and reporting crime
- Follow crime prevention advice and make sure elderly or vulnerable neighbours aware of what they should be doing. For more information visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk or call 0845 045 45 45 and ask to speak to a crime reduction officer.
- Get together with neighbours and set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. Call 020 7963 0160 for more information or visit www.neighbourhoodwatch.net
- If you see someone committing a crime or if you suspect someone of being involved in crime, make sure you report it to police on 0845 045 45 45 or call 999 in an emergency.
Tackling antisocial behaviour
- Don’t tolerate anti-social behaviour. If someone is persistently causing a problem make a note of exactly what they are doing and report it to the anti-social behaviour coordinator at your local council. Local authorities and police have new powers such as dispersal orders and anti-social behaviour orders which they might be able to use to help you.
Keeping the environment clean
- It’s everyone’s job to keep the environment clean and tidy, not just the local council’s, so make sure you dispose of litter responsibly and recycle it if you can.
- If you have seen someone fly-tipping, make a note of when and where it took place, write down and description of the person or any vehicle they are using and report it to your local council.
More information on crime prevention and personal safety is available from this website – follow the advice and information links on the left hand side.
You can also report non-urgent crime online via this website – lookout for the link on the left hand side.
If you have information about an incident but you don’t want to give police your details, call rimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and report it anonymously.
CREW Presentations
Below are links to some PowerPoint presentations about Crime Reduction Environment Weeks, that were recently given to the Police Authority and Home Office:
