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PARTNERSHIP working has helped to reduce crime in a part of Corby. The Corby Central Safer Community Team has revealed that the amount of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour taking place in the area has fallen dramatically when compared with last year. In March 2008 there were 23 incidents of criminal damage while in March the previous year there were 49. This is a difference of 26 crimes or 53per cent. Anti-social behaviour fell by 48per cent over the same period, decreasing from 207 in March 2007 to 107 in March 2008. This is a fall of 48per cent. Sergeant Julie Mead said: "Reported anti-social behaviour has reduced by 48per cent which is a great result and reward for our hard work. "Criminal damage also reduced by 53per cent in comparison with the same period last year. "But we will not be complacent. The challenge for us now is to keep up the good work and make sure that these reductions continue." Police officers and PCSOs in the area have been working with partners from Groundwork North Northants and town centre owners Land Securities in a bid to cut crime. Northamptonshire County Council supplied £5,000 to get the project off the ground and Land Securities has matched that amount. The town centre owners have now also promised another £5,000 to keep the project going. Trained and professional youth workers have been working with youngsters on the streets to encourage them to think about the consequences of bad behaviour. Workshops have also been held in the Autumn Centre on the Exeter estate encouraging young people to focus on the Respect Agenda. The workshops covered equality and diversity and the consequences involved in bad behaviour. Football sessions, music workshops and youth club sessions have also been held. Sergeant Mead said: "It just shows what can be achieved by partnership working. The workshops seemed to have a real impact on the young people." Youth development worker at Groundwork North Northants, Ann-Marie Lawson, said: "We have got a team of detached youth workers - people who work with teenagers on the street - to work with them in their own environment. "It's to divert those who may be at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour to other activities. "It's great that partnership working has helped to achieve these results." Nesw Source
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