New Safer Leeds Plan to tackle crime and its causes within the community

12.00.00am GMT Fri 4th Apr 2008

Leeds City Council continues its successful fight against crime, substance abuse and offensive behaviour.

The Safer Leeds Partnership Plan, which is currently under discussion by the Council's Executive Board, has the following strategic outcomes: encouraging safer environments by tackling crime; improving lives by reducing the harm from substance abuse; reducing victimisation and supporting victims; reducing offending and managing offensive behaviour; and improving community confidence and public satisfaction.

Crime in Leeds has fallen by one third during this administration, including a 19% reduction in violent city centre crime. Substance misuse prevention strategies have also been fruitful, with over 4000 people having enrolled on the Drug Intervention Programme.

Initiatives planned within the latest three-year plan include revamped city-wide domestic violence and hate crime strategies. Children and young people are, as ever, high on the agenda with continuation of the Every Child Matters scheme and cooperation planned with universities and students' unions to reduce the vulnerability and victimisation of students. Antisocial and offensive behaviour will be tackled by a Family Support and Parenting Strategy and new health and management systems are to be introduced for offenders. The fight against substance abuse will also continue with the development and implementation of the Leeds Alcohol Strategy, promoting a responsible drinking culture, as well as a Young People's Drugs and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment plan and a Prevention and Early Intervention Plan targeted at adults.

Councillor Richard Brett (Lib Dem, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill), Deputy Leader of Council, comments, "The idea behind Safer Leeds is that it is only by focusing on specific offenders, victims and locations in a collaborative manner that we can have a significant impact on reducing overall crime. We are committed to making Leeds a safer place to live and ensuring that people feel safer in their communities. The success of the partnership plan so far has been very encouraging and we have high hopes for the future.".