Engagement Newsletter May 2012

Engagement NewsletterEmbracing Difference 2012 - The Story So Far

We’re looking at how policing and crime affects everyone in Greater Manchester, including its diverse community groups.

To make sure that Greater Manchester Police focus on the issues that matter to you, we need to find out what you think about police and crime in your area.

Our ‘Embracing Difference’ policing priorities surveys ask you to talk about local crime issues and tell us what you think of your police service – what they do well, and how they could be doing things better.

Your views will influence the way policing is carried out next year. You’ll be helping to shape the services offered by the force and deciding which areas they should focus on most.

We’ll be running this consultation all year at events, focus groups, and online.

As well as providing monthly updates to divisional GMP commanders, your views will be presented to the new police and crime commissioner when he or she is elected in November.

Last year more than 6,000 of you told us your views on policing. We wanted 2012 to be even bigger and better.

The New Year began with a bang for the engagement team and they’ve been out and about at community events and focus groups across Greater Manchester, eager to talk to the public about local crime issues and find out what you think about your police service.

You haven’t been quiet on the subject either…we’ve got a big pile of completed policing priorities surveys to prove it! A massive 1,892 of you have already given us your views, and that’s just in January, February and March.

So, here’s a snapshot of what you’ve been telling us…

Who have we been talking to?

In January, the team went back to school to get the views of young people. We visited ten colleges across Greater Manchester, and spoke to almost 600 students.

February was our big trolley dash, encouraging hundreds of shoppers to give us their policing views while picking up their weekly shop.

Finally in March we kicked off the gender debate asking questions like ‘does your gender affect your policing needs?’ and ‘are men and women victims of certain types of crime?’ March also tied in with International Women’s Week, and 88% of people we spoke to throughout the month described themselves as a woman or female.

May 2012 Newsletter

T: 0161 793 3127 | www.gmpa.gov.uk | [email protected]

SALFORD CIVIC CENTRE | CHORLEY ROAD | SWINTON M27 5DA

We want to hear from everyone who lives or works in Greater Manchester, including residents, businesses, and those people who have been victims of crime in the past.

We hope you’ll take part; your views will make a big difference.

• Go online: www.gmpa.gov.uk/onlineconsultations

• Come to an event:

www.gmpa.gov.uk/getmypointacross

• Arrange a focus group: email: [email protected]

• Find out more about Embracing Difference:

www.gmpa.gov.uk/embracingdifference

Read More Inside

The Story So Far continued....

To get an idea of what’s going on in our communities, we’ve been asking people to tell us the top three problems where they live. This could be anti-social behaviour or road safety, drug dealing or domestic abuse.

Of the people we’ve spoken to so far, the top three problems are:• Anti-social behaviour • Burglary • Drug dealing

The three least mentioned problems are:• Terrorism• Child abuse• Organised Crime

Anti-social behaviourComments on the most commonly reported issue tended to be about unwanted persons hanging around the streets. People specifically referred to “Naughty people…” (Woman, 16-24) or “Loads of chavs…” (Man, 16-24) and people used terms like “Gangs” or “Groups” to describe them. A number of people specified these unwanted persons to be young, using terms such as “Kids hanging out…” (Man, 35-44) or “Rowdy youths” (Woman, 75 or above).

Burglary Burglary was the second most frequently reported problem. Many of the comments were that there was too much burglary in the area, with people using phrases such as “too much thieving” (Woman, 16-24). People who had been a victim of burglary stated that it had made them feel unsafe afterwards and that they had heard of it happening to someone else.

Drug DealingComments were made on there being too many drug dealers (or too much drug dealing) occurring in the area. Although few people said that they had experienced/witnessed drug dealing in their area, comments tended to be around specific locations, persons or incidents. People specifically said that the problem was local people dealing drugs e.g. “Local lads dealing” (Woman, 35-44). People gave a location such as “Around old Kwik Save...” (Woman, 16 - 24). Many comments were made on the reputation of areas e.g. “Live near a big estate that’s known for it” (Woman, 35-44) or suspicions such as “A couple of houses near my house have a lot of people traffic” (Woman, 25 - 34).

What did you tell us?The top three problems overall

The three least problems overall

Interesting Fact!Many of the people who described the problem of anti-social behaviour in their area as being unwanted young people hanging around were young people themselves.

“There’s too much burglary in the area” (woman, aged 16-24)

The Story So Far continued....

Between January and March, 1,892 people were asked what top priorities they wanted to see:

Victims of crime in the last 12 months:

Most people want police to detect crime and arrest offenders

As well as telling us the policing problems in your area, we also wanted you to tell us what policing service you think should be prioritised. These services range from detecting crime and arresting offenders to working with schools, keeping victims informed and reducing paperwork.

Of the 1,892 people who we spoke to between January and March, the priorities that came out on top were:• Detecting crime and arresting offenders• Responding to emergency calls• More officers in the community

Providing crime prevention advice came at the bottom of the list, as this was not seen as the most important job Greater Manchester Police officers should be spending their time doing.

We also spoke to 340 people who told us they had been a victim of crime in the last 12 months, and asked them about their experience of dealing with the police:

• 74% agreed/strongly agreed that they had been treated fairly• 66% agreed/strongly agreed that the police appeared to be interested in what the victim told them• More than 65% agreed/strongly agreed that the police took the matter seriously• 62% agreed/strongly agreed that the police had made them feel reassured• 53% agreed/strongly agreed that information from GMP was provided quickly.

We know that’s the burning question for the hundreds who have taken the time to talk to us. Well, we thought about a prize draw, but we didn’t think the public of Greater Manchester would be interested in fancy prizes (or a GMPA pen!).

You want to feel involved in the decision-making that affects the communities where you live, which is why your views will influence the way policing is carried out next year. We’ll share the results of our consultation with GMP bosses and the new police and crime commissioner, who will be elected by the public in November 2012.

Prioritising policing services.

What victims of crime told us

‘So I’ve given you my views...what are you going to do with them?’

We won’t stop here. This is only three months of results and we’ve got loads more planned for the rest of the year including focus groups with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and disability groups.

We’ll also be at big events across Greater Manchester, including Manchester Pride and Taste of Salford, so check out our online calendar – www.gmpa.gov.uk/getmypointacross - and pop along to talk to us.

For a full breakdown of results for January to March visit www.gmpa.gov.uk/prioritiesresults

One of the main responsibilities of Greater Manchester Police Authority is to consult with the people of Greater Manchester to identify their policing priorities and to gather their views on key issues.

To assist us in doing this, we have set up a new consultation group called ‘The Beat’ (Building Engagement and Transparency). This will allow us to ask members of the public key questions on current issues relating to policing, crime and disorder and influence policing and community safety on an on-going basis.

Invites have been sent out, however, there are a few places remaining, so if you want to be part of this exciting new group, receive exclusive invites to our engagement events and make your voice heard, contact Hannah using the details below.

Hannah Carrington

Tel: 0161 7933748Email: [email protected]

Alternatively scan this QR tag using your phone and you will be directed to the website

Finally, a big thank you

GMPA is starting up a new consultation group on policing and crime!

If you would like to take up this opportunity, joining couldn’t be

easier

The ‘BEAT’ - Building Engagement and Transparency

FREE PRIZE DRAWevery month to win a home security pack

Have your say and be heard?

Influence policing and community safety across Greater Manchester?

Be one of the first to discuss current issues relating to policing, crime and disorder?

Receive priority invites to our engagements events?

Would you like to:

GETTING MY POINT ACROSS

Name of team:GMPA Engagement

Consulted at:Eleven Greater Manchester FE Colleges

Gender:Female - 380Male - 208

Main three problems:Anti-social behaviorBurglaryDrug Dealing

Date:January 2012

Number of Participants:588

Age Range:16- 24

Main Police Priorities:Detecting crime and arresting offendersResponding to emergency callsMore officers in the community

January 2012:

Throughout January we consulted over 500 students from 11 colleges across Greater Manchester on issues of policing priorities and crime and disorder.

See the results on the Student ID Card

March 2012 - Gender:

In March, we focused on gender issues in relation to crime and policing. The aim was to identify any specific issues facing women and men because of their gender and to find out what they feel the police in their areas should be prioritising.

Focus group discussions were carried out across Greater Manchester, including: Bolton Council of Mosques; Heaton Link Asian Women’s Group; Shree Ram Mandir Temple women’s group; Women Matta; Westwood and Coldhurst Women’s Association; Bury Asian Women’s Centre and the Pakistani Community Centre.

Consultations were also carried out via questionnaires at events for International Women’s Day in Manchester, Trafford and Bury.

The focus groups identified that fear of crime was greater than actual experience of crime and women were flexible in terms of speaking to either a male or female officer in most instances, unless the crime they had experienced was of a personal nature linked to their gender.

If there are any women’s or men’s groups who have not yet taken part in a focus group and would like to have their say, there is still time to contact us and arrange a meeting. Contact Lisa on 0161 793 2507

Overview of Months January - March 2012

February 2012:

Shopping ListBreadMilkCheeseGreater Manchester Police Authority

As part of the ‘Embracing Difference’ campaign, the engagement team held consultation stalls in supermarkets across Greater Manchester. We asked you, the public, to let us know what issues have a negative affect, if any, in the area that you live or work. We also asked you to let us know what Greater Manchester Police need to prioritise in order to deliver an efficient and effective service.

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from Greater Manchester Police also came along to answer any questions you had about policing in the local area.

The public participation was amazing and we were overwhelmed by the amount of people wanting to have their say. We were definitely a priority on the shopping list!

Thank you to everyone that visited one of our stalls. Your opinions are appreciated and will inform both local and Greater Manchester wide policing.

T: 0161 793 3127 | www.gmpa.gov.uk | [email protected]

SALFORD CIVIC CENTRE | CHORLEY ROAD | SWINTON M27 5DA

The Police Property Act Fund is money made from the sale of stolen goods that have been seized by police.

We use this money to provide grants to worthwhile community, voluntary, and charitable projects, especially those involved with reducing crime and disorder at a local level.

It’s a great scheme, but we think the Police Property Act Fund needs a new name – something more meaningful, community-oriented, and user-friendly.

We’re currently welcoming applications for this year’s fund. To apply for a grant of upto £1000 visit our website to find out more: www.gmpa.gov.uk/propertyactfund

In 2011, the Authority began working in partnership with faith groups and organisations to deliver a series of multi faith events, each one celebrating a prominent date within the six main faith calendars. Over 900 people joined us to celebrate and share different faiths and beliefs through traditional cultural activities.

The Authority working in partnership with the Indian Association, Manchester held a Diwali celebration event at Gandhi Hall, Withington.

We were also proud to support Bolton’s first Eid, Diwali and Coming of Christmas Celebration, organised by Bolton Muslim Elders.

In the last week of December the Authority in partnership with The Jewish Representative Council, Greater Manchester and Region invited people of all faiths to celebrate the festival of Hanukkah.

People of all faiths attended St Patrick’s Parish Hall, Oldham in March to celebrate the Christian celebration of Lent and the arrival of Easter.

Finally, the Authority was proud to work in partnership with the Indian Association Manchester to host an event to celebrate the festival of Vaisakhi which took place in April.

We are now planning future faith celebration events over the coming months, so watch this space…

So give us your ideas!

Talk to us on Twitter , Facebook, or email [email protected].

#policepropertyactfund

You can also post your ideas to:

PPAF Comms, GMPASalford Civic CentreChorley RoadSwinton, SalfordM27 5DA

Police Property Act Fund needs a new name!

GMPA’s Interfaith Celebration Project