The Safer Croydon Partnership (SCP) has launched a new Community Safety Engagement Board (CSEB) to listen to and collaborate with residents and community groups on community safety initiatives.
The CSEB will provide a platform for communities across Croydon to engage with the council, police, fire brigade, probation, and health services – the agencies that make up the SCP – to work together to tackle crime and disorder issues.
Additionally, the CSEB will aim to increase awareness of the SCP’s work to tackle crime and disorder across Croydon, helping to reassure residents and improve public confidence in community safety initiatives.
The board heard that a top priority for the SCP is helping young people to stay safe and they are already developing a new youth safety plan to help reduce serious youth violence and keep young people safe from gang activity and exploitation. Part of this plan will involve a targeted summer provision with a focus on safety.
Other SCP priorities include addressing violence against women and girls, and tackling antisocial behaviour in hotspot areas, which align with Mayor Perry’s priorities.
“This new partnership puts communities at the heart of our plans to make Croydon safer. I promised to listen to residents and the new Community Safety Engagement Board provides an opportunity for our communities and partners to have a voice in tackling crime and disorder issues.
“Residents know what they need in their neighbourhoods, and I want us to harness their expert local knowledge, skills and experience so that together we can tackle the root causes of crime and make our borough safer for everyone.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
The inaugural meeting held this week was chaired by Councillor Ola Kolade, the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and was attended by Croydon’s voluntary organisations including the Croydon Voluntary Association, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Neighbourhood Watch, Croydon Community Against Trafficking, Faith Together Network, Legacy Youth Zone and more.
Future meetings of the board will invite more organisations to join and have representation from the other agencies that constitute the SCP.
