Safer and Stronger Communities is a central government term relating to the government’s agenda for tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and drugs, empowering communities, and improving the condition of streets and public spaces; in particular for disadvantaged neighbourhoods where these issues often require more attention.

The Safer and Stronger Communities Fund was introduced for all Local Authorities in England in April 2005. The Fund brings together Central Government funding streams aimed at reducing crime and increasing active citizenship.  The first year of the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (2005/06) was transitional as it brought together existing funding streams with delivery plans already attached.

Safer and Stronger Communities is a key theme within the development of the Sefton Local Area Agreement, an agreement between Sefton Council, its partners including the Sefton Voluntary and Community Sector, and Central Government.  The Local Area Agreement aims to ‘deliver genuinely sustainable communities through better outcomes for local people’, through improved partnership working between different agencies and by setting targets for key local issues (e.g. anti-social behaviour, health, education etc.). 
In Sefton, there has been extensive multi-agency work undertaken to ensure that the Sefton Public Sector (Sefton Council, Merseyside Police, etc.) and the Sefton Voluntary & Community Sector are working together to meet the targets within the Safer & Stronger Communities theme.  The principal strategy for meeting this agenda is the Sefton Crime Reduction and Community Safety Strategy 2005-08.  A copy of this document can be found at http://www.sefton.gov.uk/PDF/CrimeRCSStrategy.pdf and highlights the 5 key priorities within the Safer and Stronger Communities area.  These are:

Key Priority 1 – Reduction of Priority Crime

Key Priority 2 – Reduce Fear of Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

Key Priority 3 – Reduce Harm Caused by Illegal Drugs and Alcohol

Key Priority 4 – Increase Voluntary and Community Engagement

Key Priority 5 – Make the Physical Environment Cleaner, Safer and Greener

The strategy is co-ordinated by the Sefton Safer and Stronger Communities Partnership, one of the sub-partnerships under the Sefton Borough Partnership.

For more information on this particular area, please contact:

Neil Frackelton
Sefton CVS Safer & Stronger Communities Programme Manager
(0151) 928 2233 ext.111
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ann Cartwright
Sefton CVS Safer & Stronger Communities Programme Information & Monitoring Officer
(0151) 928 233 ext.311
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Liz Sheldrake
Sefton CVS Safer & Stronger Communities Programme Development Worker
(0151) 928 2233 ext. 101
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it