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Focus is on the community in week of CREW events

Press Releases

Published: 19/09/2008

The success of this years CREW events is being continued with six days filled with activities designed to improve the area of Landport and Somerstown, in Portsmouth.

Crime Reduction and Environment Weeks, better known as CREWs, are organised by police, wardens, the council, fire and rescue, residents, partners and local businesses so that everyone can pull together and help out for the benefit of the whole community.

From Monday, September 22 to Saturday, September 27 the action is non stop, where local people can come along and take part, talking to police and council workers to help in building a better environment to live and work in.

The events organised for CREWs are often focussed on concerns expressed by residents, to ensure the work carried out is targeted, and also sustainable, so that the benefits are felt long term.

Throughout the week there will be ongoing work to ensure children are attending school properly, and visits will be made, advising on fire safety in the home and crime prevention.

Monday will see a police beat surgery, cycle marking and environmental checks being carried out. This means that experts will be checking the local area to see where further work can be undertaken in the future.

On Tuesday a survey will begin throughout the area where residents can again speak to officers and council workers, and voice their concerns about what should be addressed and improved for the future. There will also be recruitment for the Pride in Pompey scheme and at 7pm, a meeting for the residents of Garnier Street id taking place at the Wesley Centre.

On Wednesday and Thursday cleaning of April Square and a community garden will be done by unpaid workers, as well as more fire safety checks and the continuation of the survey.

Friday features a school Art Attack, where 300 pupils from St Johns, Arundel Court Junior and Somers Park schools will all be gathering on the playground at Somers Park Primary school to create giant human letters spelling out ‘NO TO KNIVES’, in order to send an impactive message about knife crime.

The week draws to a close on Saturday with a Faith and Football tournament and the Community Fun Day between 2pm and 5pm at the Charles Dickens Centre, with education and career advice available, alongside a bouncy castle and face painting for the little ones.

In the evening a barbeque and entertainment will be available for local residents at the Landport Community Centre, as well as a police beat surgery and a display by the fire and rescue service.

PC Dan Stork Banks, who has organised many of the weeks events and patrols the local area, said, “There’s going to be so much going on we really want people to get involved whenever they can. Stop and speak to anyone you see walking around and have a chat – this week is about really making the difference and we want to do that by working with the residents. It’s great to have so many people getting on board and working together with such enthusiasm, it’s definitely going to be a very busy and very enjoyable week.”

Cllr Jason Fazackarley, Executive Member for Environment and Community Safety, said, “This is a great opportunity for the residents of Landport and Somerstown to get involved in a variety of activities in their local community and also for them to have their say as to what can be improved in the area; I would urge people to take part and help make a difference.”

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