Southampton calls for views on safe city strategy

A public consultation has been launched by Southampton’s Safe City Partnership to seek feedback on its new five-year strategy for tackling crime and disorder, keeping people safe and promoting safer communities.

The partnership includes Southampton City Council and local police and fire services, alongside local partners, and is responsible for governance of the locally commissioned services to prevent and reduce offending, support victims, provide treatment services and a build a safer community.

The plan puts forward three key priorities for keeping Southampton safe over the next 5 years, including keeping people safe from harm, preventing and reducing offending, and creating safe, stronger communities.

Cllr Spiros Vassiliou, cabinet member for communities, culture and heritage, said: ‘Working together in a joined-up way with our partners is key to how we can reduce crime across the city. But we know there is more that can be done to ensure that Southampton is a safe city.

‘Strengthening relationships with our communities will be at the heart of our five-year plan and this consultation is an opportunity for you to comment on the approach and areas of focus, such as violence against women and girls, serious violence and anti-social behaviour.’

The consultation is running for 12 weeks, until 1 November, and can be completed online here.

Superintendent Simon Dodds, district commander for Southampton, said: ‘We welcome the opportunity for communities to comment on how we, and other statutory partners in the city, can make Southampton safer over the next five years. Southampton is a busy, urban city and that’s why working as a partnership to reduce crime and make Southampton safer is so important.

‘We can only do this when we work together with communities and focus our approach on the issues that really matter to the people of Southampton. Driving down serious violence and keeping people safe from harm requires a multi-agency effort and community support and we are absolutely committed to working with our partners on a strategy that will reduce crime.’

In related news, residents in Leicester have helped to shape the Leicester Knife Crime and Serious Violence Strategy.

Photo by Frankie Lu