The community safety partnership for Milton Keynes has launched a public survey to gather local people’s thoughts ahead of the introduction of new government legislation.
The new national Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021 is set to be introduced by the government and as a result, all local community safety partnerships across the UK have been asked to identify any serious violence that occurs in their area, its causes and a strategy to prevent it.
SaferMK, the community safety partnership for Milton Keynes and made up of representatives from MK Council, Thames Valley Police, Bucks Fire and Rescue, the NHS and local community groups including the MK Dons SET, has produced its Serious Violence Strategy in response to the new government requirement and is asking local people to have their say on it in the online survey. The SaferMK partnership works together to deliver a range of community safety initiatives in Milton Keynes.
Over the last three years and working with its SaferMK partners, MK Council has committed £350,000 to deliver projects aimed at early intervention, which have most recently included a new knife crime prevention learning zone at the Safety Centre Hazard Alley, as well as a youth outreach programme, mentoring scheme, street art parkour workshops, mental health support and speech and language provision.
SaferMK’s new Serious Violence Strategy sets out proposals focusing on five main areas including early intervention and prevention, shared information and intelligence, tackling drugs and county lines, engagement and community support, as well as law and enforcement.
Cllr Lauren Townsend, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety at MK Council said: “We’ve produced our Serious Violence Strategy in response to the new government requirement, and it’s been a good opportunity to reflect on the good work we’ve done to date. We’ll continue to work with our local partners to ensure Milton Keynes stays a safe place to live, work and visit. Please have your say in the online survey to help develop the new strategy.”
The public survey is available to complete online and is open until 7 March 2022.
Click here to complete the survey.