Please spare a few minutes this week to complete our Community Safety Survey, which will help us determine the issues and locations to focus on over the coming year. We want your views on how safe you feel around the town and what action you think needs taking – and your input really does make a difference as the last year shows.
A number of successful initiatives to help tackle antisocial behaviour in Reading were introduced as a direct result of your views in last year’s survey. These include:
Concerns around retail crime:
Increased funding of the Townsafe Radio scheme and Reading Business Against Crime (RBAC) to support retailers with training and intelligence.
Worries about aggressive begging and harrassment, particularly around the train station and throughout the town centre:
A new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has given TVP additional powers to deal with aggressive begging. The Tap for Reading scheme provides the public with an alternative means of giving to homeless people online which helps reduce aggressive begging.
Concerns about the safety of women in Reading, particularly in the town centre:
The Reading Safe Space continues to play a key role in supporting the safety of women in the Town Centre, with Reading’s First Stop and Street Pastors using it to support vulnerable night time visitors to town.
Environmental issues like fly-tipping and littering:
Last September we introduced a new Environmental Enforcement Partnership with Kingdom Local Authority Support. Five dedicated environmental enforcement officers patrol hotspot areas daily which has seen a tenfold increase in the number of PCNs issued and we will be extending the scheme as a result of its success.
Complaints about reckless and dangerous riding of e-bikes and e-scooters, and these vehicles being used in criminal activity, such as drug dealing and ASB:
Countered by the Public Spaces Protection Order, which came into force in March and gives the Council and Police additional powers to deal with five key elements of antisocial behaviour across Reading Borough. As well as aggressive begging and the anti-social use of e-bikes and e-scooters, the order also deals with street drinking, dog fouling and dog control – all issues residents told the Council it wanted action taken on.
By completing the survey at www.reading.gov.uk/cspsurvey26, residents have an effective platform on which to voice their concerns. We’re working closely with Police colleagues to find new and positive solutions to the issues people have flagged with us to help residents and visitors enjoy Reading safely.
Councillor Liz Terry, Leader of the Council
