THE SAFEST CITY IN BRITAIN

Fighting crime and reducing anti social behaviour and disorder remains our Number 1 Priority. We are guided by our Crime Reduction Strategy that brings together police, the community, partner organisations and Manchester City Council. The Strategy will be renewed, building on the achievements of the past two years with neighbourhood policing remaining at the very core of the strategy.

The new Crime Reduction Strategy will embrace the Labour Government’s Respect Agenda and the Safer Neighbourhoods Policy. We will continue to work together and engage with police, partners and communities through Neighbourhood Partnerships. Local forums that work together in a neighbourhood to task and direct council, police and other agencies to deliver safe and sustainable neighbourhoods.

Manchester Labour has demonstrated that by working together with the police, council staff and communities crime and anti social behaviour is reduced.

While it is recognised that crime levels in our city are still too high. Manchester Labour will build upon the achievement of a fall in overall crime, which will mean an estimated 14000 less victims of crime. The reduction in crime as been achieved by; better coordination and the introduction of neighbourhood policing, the increased in police numbers, the deployment of PCSO, the intensity and lasting effects of Respect Action Weeks and the use of effective legislation introduced by the Labour Government.

These and other aspects of the new Crime Reduction Strategy will make an impact in the fight to reduced crime and anti social behaviour, reassure the pubic and create safer neighbourhoods in Manchester.

Manchester Labour is committed to being on the side of law-abiding citizens against criminals and thugs. Despite Lib Dems opposition both in Parliament and here in Manchester to Labour’s tough and effective legislation, dispersal orders, alcohol zones and Asbo’s and the Lib Dems call for a softly softly approach to guns, knives, drugs and crack house closures as well as sniping at the Respect Agenda. Manchester Labour will not be diverted and we will continue to challenge unacceptable behaviour where it occurs, take positive action to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and support a respect culture.

Manchester Labour is committed to pioneering new approaches to dealing with drug related, alcohol related and gang, gun and knife crime. We will press for changes in the law when needed to protect the pubic and improve the delivery of the criminal justice system.

Over 13,000 incidents of domestic abuse are reported to the police in Manchester every year. We will continue our committment to tackle domestic abuse, and have implemented a new strategy working with all agencies who deal with people affected by this. Manchester now has a specialist court dealing with domestic abuse, and we have employed Independent Domestic Violence Advocates to support victims of abuse, both male and female. We have invested in measures and support to enable people affected by violence to stay in their own homes safely, and will continue to improve accomodation for those people unable to do this.

Manchester has the best record of any Council of obtaining Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and injunctions against nuisance neighbours. This policy will continue; working with tenants and residents groups, to ensure that the majority are able to live peacefully in their communities. We will not allow the minority to terrorize individuals and communities and will continue to support neighbourhood wardens and CCTV schemes.

We will continue our twin track approach making sure enforcement activity such as ASBOs is accompanied by appropriate support by the Youth Offending Team and the Education Department, and for example by parenting orders, parenting contracts and individual support orders.

We believe in tackling the causes of anti-social behaviour and working through the Youth Service with young people in particular. We will further expand our Intensive Family Intervention schemes, and ensure that young people have access to positive leisure and sport activities.

There have been some notable successes in the way that anti-social behaviour by some young people has been dealt with; particularly the Dispersal Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts for under 10’s piloted in East Manchester. These schemes will be extended and more emphasis placed on parenting orders.

Housing Associations in Manchester and the Northwards ALMO have signed up to Manchester’s enhanced Respect Housing Management standards. Manchester Labour will ensure that the Labour Council works with private landlords to encourage, support and, where appropriate, enforce direct action by them on Anti- Social Behaviour, using our new landlord licensing powers. Swift action will be taken against those breaching ASBOs.

Labour Councillors will also ensure the further development of witness support services.