Scottish Minister looks to London on Community Safety Action

Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell visited Bexley’s Community Safety Action Zone in Slade Green on 16 June on a fact finding visit to develop greater understanding of anti-social behaviour issues and to see how London boroughs are successfully paving the way in tackling this. Mr McConnell said:

“Scotland can learn important lessons from Bexley’s success in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.”

When Scotland's First Minister was looking to find out about successful anti-social behaviour initiatives GOL recommended a visit to Slade Green Action Zone. The Action Zone, which is supported by the police and the local authority, aims to reduce crime and implement long-term projects in areas where crime and fear of crime are high.  Projects are not just about crime prevention and include programmes such as work on environmental crime and restorative justice, such as getting graffiti offenders to repaint defaced walls. Another effective initiative is Operation Cubit, which has removed 450 abandoned and illegal vehicles in Slade Green in the last eight months, greatly contributing to the perception of Bexley as a safe place.

The Action Zone has seen a fall in crime of 6.8% in the last year, making Bexley one of the best performing boroughs in the Metropolitan Police area for crime reduction for 2002/03.  The Action Zone has also had a strong effect on fear of crime. Before the initiatives only 22% of residents felt safe in their area at night. Afterwards, the figure rose to 93%.

Mr McConnell talked to local residents about the benefits of the Action Zone, and about the Slade Green Forum. The Forum involves and supports local residents, with backing from the council and police, to help develop a sense of community ownership of the projects and the area.

For more information please see the crime and drugs team pages on this website.