Safer summer for St Helens

The Safespace campaign  – which saw Merseyside Police teaming up with St Helens Council, Helena Partnerships and other agencies – focused on known summer hotspots including the Duckeries, Taylor Park, Sherdley Park, Queens Park, Clinkham Woods, King George V Park and Mesnes Park from July to August 2010.

Extra police patrols were deployed and neighbourhood officers spoke to over 100 youngsters – either to warn them about their behaviour or to point them towards a range of organised activities.

These included arts and crafts sessions, skate parks, laser quest, graffiti art sessions, drama workshops, writing sessions, rounders tournaments, and The Fire Support Networks Fire Fit Sports Camps.

Due to the success of the campaign, Community Safety Partners will be scheduling a range of exciting opportunities for young people as part of their upcoming annual, ‘Good Guy’ campaign - which aims to reduce anti-social behaviour and nuisance fires throughout the Halloween and bonfire period,

The activities funded by Safer Communities and planned throughout the October half term will include Fire Fit Autumn Sports Camps, Street Cage Multi-Sport, Community Clean up days, and a Chill Out Zone for young people at The Thomson Centre, Allanson Street, Parr.

Councillor Sue Murphy, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Safer Communities and Youth said: “The campaign showed that the council and other agencies making up the Community Safety Partnership are determined to ensure we work together to tackle anti-social behaviour.

“We need to show there are alternatives for young people. Simply moving people on is not an option, and that’s why we’re particularly pleased to see that more than 900 youngsters took part in the various diversionary activities we organised for them.”