County's first community safety strategy launched

Council leaders have given their backing to their county's first ever community safety strategy.

The document sets out how Staffordshire County Council aims to work with other organisations to protect residents and cut crime over the next three years.

Priorities included protecting vulnerable people, with "zero tolerance for grooming gangs, county lines and child exploitation", a report stated.

Other priorities involved "making Staffordshire's neighbourhoods safe, strong and proud", "preventing harm before it occurs by addressing the root causes of crime and vulnerability" and "driving community safety through partnership, challenge and accountability".

"Our commitment is to create a Staffordshire where every individual feels secure, supported, and free from fear," said councillor Anthony Screen, cabinet member for community safety and resilience, in the report.

"By investing in prevention and fostering collaboration, we aim to make Staffordshire a place where safety is woven into the fabric of everyday life."

Councillor Hayley Coles, cabinet member for communities and culture, added that the project marked a "significant moment" for Staffordshire.

"For the first time the county council has its own community safety strategy, supported by the introduction last year of a dedicated portfolio holder for community safety and resilience.

"Together, these changes reflect a much stronger, clearer and more determined focus on community safety across the council – something that has not been done before and something residents asked us look at was more safety in the area."

She said community safety was a core priority, and that work under the new strategy would include lobbying for better funding, stronger legislation or improved information sharing between organisations.

"This is the start of what's to come for our county," said acting council leader Martin Murray.

"Safety and community is key to everything we will be delivering in the future."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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