Safe City Strategic Assessment

Safe City Strategic Assessment

The Southampton Safe City Partnership co-ordinates multi-agency action on community safety to improve lives and foster stronger communities by reducing crime, anti-social behaviour, alcohol use and supply, and the use and harm caused by drugs throughout the city. Partners include the five statutory authorities: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Southampton City Council, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Probation Services and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB). In addition, there are representatives from the Youth Offending Service (YOS), Southampton Voluntary Services (SVS), schools, businesses, Spectrum Centre for Independent Living, Victim Support, No Limits and the Integrated Commissioning Unit (ICU).

It is a legislative requirement for the Partnership to undertake a Strategic Assessment each year. This is a public document which provides an overview of current and future crime, disorder and community safety issues affecting Southampton and makes recommendations to enable the Partnership to focus the Southampton Safe City Strategy and local delivery plans, ensuring they continue to meet the needs of the city. The Strategic Assessment includes the following:

• An analysis of the levels of crime and disorder and substance use in the area
• Changes in those levels and why these changes have occurred
• Views of local people living and working in the area in relation to crime and disorder and substance use
• Identification of gaps in knowledge which need to be addressed
• Recommendations for matters which should be prioritised

The Safe City strategy was refreshed in 2022, with the 2022 strategy spanning five (rather than three) years. This will continue to be assessed every year using the findings of the annual Safe City Strategic Assessment.

Three products were delivered as part of the Strategic Assessment: an interactive dashboard, slide set and a report, with the latter two summarising key changes. The slide set and report contribute to the overall picture of Community Safety in Southampton and therefore need to be reviewed alongside each other.