The partnership has won the regional Tilley Award for Safer Communities (East). They cracked down on alcohol related disorder in Norwich in response to local concerns about a rise in alcohol related offending and violent crime. Having liaised with retailers and licensees, they found that over half of offenders were aged between 18 and 25 and that late night drinking effectively blurred the distinction between victim and offender in many cases.
Persistent offenders were directed into alcohol referral projects to make them realise the error of their behaviour. The partnership of numerous agencies believes they have saved almost £15,000 in criminal damage, with major benefits to individuals' health and lifestyles.
The Tilley Awards were set up ten years ago to recognise innovative crime fighting projects where police and local community safety agencies are successfully working together to identify and tackle local crime problems.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"I am very impressed by the range and quality of entries to this year's Tilley Awards. Norfolk Constabulary have demonstrated that by working with community safety agencies, retailers and licensees they can make drastic cuts in alcohol related disorder and help make our city and town centres enjoyable for all.
"Crime has fallen by a third in the last 11 years but we can never be complacent in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour.
"There is no one size fits all approach to cutting crime and enforcement is just one part of the solution. By working together and using innovative, sustainable ways to reduce crime and disorder in neighbourhoods we can make further strides in cutting crime. I hope other police forces and partnerships will follow Norfolk Constabulary's fine example."
A project on criminal damage by the Be Safe Bolton Strategic Partnership was awarded the £10,000 national Tilley prize at a glittering awards ceremony on Tuesday evening. It fought off strong competition from two other finalists, Safer Merton and West Yorkshire Police, both projects tackling anti-social behaviour. The top three projects were deemed to be the best by an expert panel from the Home Office, academics, Association of Chief Police Officers and previous winners of the Tilley Award out of the 150 entries submitted.
