Our vision
Everyone has the responsibility to take reasonable steps to:
- avoid becoming a victim of crime
- not cause harassment or distress to others
- respect differences in others
About the Community Safety Partnership
A Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is a statutory, multi-agency partnership. Agencies work together to create a plan to reduce crime and disorder in their area.
The Community Safety Partnership Plan is managed by the CSP Performance Group. They meet quarterly to oversee and bring together community safety leads to monitor outcomes and impact of priority work.
Successful delivery of the Community Safety Partnership Plan is dependent not only on support from our partners but also working with our residents, community and voluntary groups, which are vital to reduce crime and disorder.
The CSP benefits from excellent communication arrangements and positive relationships with all partners in Bracknell Forest.
Our partners
The CSP is made up of responsible authorities from:
- Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Thames Valley Police
- Probation Service
- NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board
- Bracknell Forest Council
Other partners include but are not limited to:
- Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC)
- voluntary services (Involve)
- the business and retail sector
- elected members (borough, town and parish)
Groups that deliver the CSP plan
The CSP is pivotal in bringing together partnerships, individuals, services and organisations into strategic and operational groups that work on the CSP priorities. These groups include:
- Prevent Steering Group - a statutory multi-partner response to safeguard those most at risk of radicalisation to commit terror offences
- Domestic Abuse Executive Group – a statutory strategic group to improve outcomes for victims of domestic abuse, including their children, by identifying and addressing gaps in support, including those within safe accommodation
- Domestic Abuse Forum – a forum which identifies and promotes good practice so that professionals can work more effectively in partnership to reduce the incidence of domestic abuse in Bracknell Forest
- MATAC (Multi-Agency Tasking and Coordination) – police led meetings to manage perpetrators of domestic abuse which is of highest harm
- MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference) - meetings to support high risk victims of domestic abuse
- PPSG (Partnership Problem-Solving Group and any task and finish groups) – an operational group to tackle complex and challenging crime and disorder issues of individuals or locations across the wider borough
- Town Centre Partnership Problem Solving Group – as with the PPSG but specific to Bracknell town centre
- Youth Justice Management Board – a strategic group to oversee the delivery of youth justice services within the borough and the implementation of the Youth Justice Plan objectives
- Serious Violence and Exploitation Strategic Group – a strategic group to make sure effective, co-ordinated service provision is in place for those at risk of serious violence or exploitation
- Serious Adult Violence and Exploitation (SAVE) Group – an operational group that manages and supports habitual knife carriers, safeguards adults at risk of serious violence and exploitation and tackles problematic hot spot locations
- MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) – meetings to manage offenders of highest risk to the public
- MACE (Multi-Agency Child Exploitation Group) and Makesafe - multi-partner strategy meetings to safeguard young people most at risk of exploitation and serious violence including knife crime
Priorities
As required by law, the Bracknell Forest Community Safety Partnership (CSP) carries out an assessment of local crime and disorder every 3 years. This, together with partner and resident consultation, establishes priorities which are reviewed each year.
The strategic assessment considers the following local data:
- volumes and trends of crime and ASB
- forecasts and projections of crime and ASB
- consultation with the statutory and wider membership of the CSP
- consultation with residents and businesses
- emerging issues of national concern
- priorities of key partners including the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner
The following priorities have been identified and agreed by the CSP and the community.
Key focus areas for 2023 to 2024
Serious violence and exploitation across all ages
Serious violence and exploitation is a high harm crime and instils fear in communities. We are working on preventative approaches in this area with the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit. We would like to use the tools they have developed to help us work with perpetrators and safeguard those who are at highest risk. New duties to be introduced will require local authorities, police and other partners to work together to stop cycles of violence. We will be learning more about what that means and how we can work more effectively in a targeted way.
We will be:
- understanding the prevalence of reported serious violence and knife crime so a collective response can be put in place
- monitoring the number of children referred to the MACE and Makesafe groups
- creating a new over 18s serious violence and exploitation operational group which will:
- manage habitual knife carriers
- safeguard over 18s at risk of serious violence and exploitation
- respond to serious violence and exploitation hotspots in the borough
- monitoring the number of referrals for specialist exploitation and modern slavery support with a view to promoting the service
Town centre antisocial behaviour and crime
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) incidents and low-level crime have increased in Bracknell Town Centre over the last 6 months and work is taking place to tackle it. The town centre is the social and economic hub of our borough. Crime and disorder can have a detrimental impact on the viability of businesses as well as the safety of those who visit. In 2022 to 2023, we will continue to work on reducing incidents and nuisance. We will work to keep the town centre a safe and enjoyable place for residents to live in and businesses to thrive in. We will do this by using a collaborative approach with stakeholders, using tools and powers provided for in legislation.
We will be:
- seeking to understand the prevalence of reported crime:
- violence against the person
- criminal damage
- public order
- shoplifting
- seeking to understand ASB incidents within the town centre
- responding to stubborn issues through the Town Centre Partnership Problem-Solving Group
- working with partners including Children’s Social Care to support those engaging in ASB and crime in the town centre
- reviewing obstacles to the reporting of shoplifting by businesses in Bracknell Town Centre
Domestic abuse
Management of perpetrators and enforcement and delivery of the Safe Accommodation Action Plan
Domestic abuse is a hidden crime which has significant psychological consequences for victims. These include:
- anxiety, depression
- suicidal behaviour
- low self-esteem
- inability to trust others
- flashbacks
- sleep disturbances
- emotional detachment
The physical health consequences are also often long-term.
We will focus on the protection and support given to victims. We will also develop our management of perpetrators, minimising repeated victimisation and strengthening prevention.
We will be:
- encouraging and monitoring the number of MATAC (Multi-Agency Tasking and Co-ordination) referrals
- monitoring the number of repeat offences committed by the MATAC cohort
- encouraging and monitoring the number of prevention orders issued for domestic abuse
- continuing the work outlined in the Safe Accommodation Strategy
Monitoring and response
Borough-wide crime and ASB hotspots
ASB covers a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance, annoyance, harm and distress to a person or community. We know that single agencies cannot always resolve ASB on their own and must work in partnership to address it. We adopt a harm-centred approach to ASB and we focus on shared problem-solving with partners. This year, we will continue to proactively respond to ASB in recognition of the detrimental impact it can have on a person or family’s quality of life. For more information, visit our antisocial behaviour page.
We will be:
- monitoring the number of referrals to the PPSGs - making sure strong resolutions are found
- responding to ASB hotspots in parks and open spaces
- monitoring all ASB queries received by the Community Safety Service
Residential burglary
Burglary can be a highly traumatic experience for victims – whether they are in the property at the time or not. Many victims find that the impacts can lead to feelings of vulnerability, fear and anxiety. This can affect their lives for quite some time after the incident. Burglary incidents are low in Bracknell Forest. However, due to the impact they can have on victims, we will be closely monitoring incidents and trends so we can respond quickly and effectively. We will also continue to promote prevention and awareness messages so that the community can be as resilient as possible.
Vehicle crime
Vehicle crime can have significant consequences. It can prevent individuals, such as a key workers, from being able to carry out their work. It can impact earnings and result in costly repairs and insurance claims. While vehicle crime is low in our borough, we will be closely monitoring incidents and trends so that we can respond quickly and effectively. We continue to promote prevention and awareness messages so that the community can be as resilient as possible.
Further research
Violence against women and girls
These crimes can have a devastating impact on victims, their families and wider communities, and have no place in our society. They include domestic abuse, sexual harassment, bullying, exploitation and human trafficking. We know that national efforts are being made to prevent and tackle these crimes. A similar approach is required of local crime partnerships. We need to better understand the issues that women and girls are facing in our borough. We need to plan our approach and response in collaboration with stakeholders, organisational partners, and the community. This work has already begun and will be developed in 2022 to 2023.
Street drug dealing
Drug-dealing in our communities can cause alarm. It can create fear and have a negative impact on people's health and wellbeing. It may even lead to social isolation. We recognise this and will be conducting research into its prevalence. We want to eradicate it and prevent it from reoccurring.
Measuring success
The CSP Performance Group assess progress against each aim at their quarterly meetings. They will proactively take steps to achieve the agreed outcome.
Accountability
Once a year, a committee of elected councillors known as the Overview and Scrutiny Commission meets in a specific capacity as the “Crime and Disorder Committee.” At this meeting, the CSP is held to account on their performance against the plan. This is a meeting that is open for the public to attend and is subject to the council’s scheme of public participation.
To find out when the next Crime and Disorder Committee is due to take place, contact the service using the email address below.
Recording crimes
The police are responsible for recording crimes.
To report a crime:
- phone 999 for emergencies
- phone 101 for non-emergencies or visit the Thames Valley Police’s website
For confidential, non-urgent reporting contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit the Crimestoppers website.
Differences between the CSP and the PCC
The Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is an elected post. The role of the post is to oversee the running of the area's police force. The PCC will have their own plan for the Thames Valley area. They appoint the Thames Valley Chief Constable and allocate the budget for running the force. The PCC grants some funding to support the 13 CSPs within the Thames Valley. You can read more about this in the 2021 to 2025 PCC Plan on the Thames Valley PCC website.