16 February 2009
A major publicity campaign aimed at tackling alcohol related violence has been launched by the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership.
The campaign entitled "Don't go into injury time" is being run in conjunction with the current Six Nations rugby tournament, and highlights the worrying fact that almost half of all violent crime in the UK is alcohol related.
The "Don't go into injury time" campaign includes posters, flyers and adverts highlighting the far-reaching effects that alcohol related violence can have, not just on the victims, but also on the wider community.
Promotional items such as beermats and stress reliever rugby balls are also being distributed to licensed premises in the county borough, to further highlight the issue.
As well as the obvious physical harm that alcohol related violence can cause, it can also significantly undermine the sense of community pride in an area and it can have a huge impact on fear of crime in the area also.
Over the past three years, the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership has worked tirelessly to reduce levels of crime throughout the county borough by an excellent 22.8%.
Recent statistics also show that compared to the same period last year for the borough, violence against the person has been reduced by a further 7.8%.
This is excellent progress, however the partnership is committed to ensuring that this commendable work continues, by reducing levels of crime and disorder in the Caerphilly county borough even further – One of the aims of the "Don't go into injury time" campaign is to help build on these successes.
The partnership has increased the amount of high visibility policing in hotspot areas, with support from the council's team of Community Safety Wardens. A triage service will also be provided in Blackwood town centre on Saturday 21st March (the last day of the tournament) to treat Six Nations revellers.
The effectiveness of the county borough's CCTV cameras in capturing incidences of criminal activity is also being highlighted, as is the help that is available to victims of domestic abuse and their families.
Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, "I am full of praise for this excellent campaign – although instances of violent crime in our county borough are very few and far between, that does not alter the fact that when incidents do occur, they are of serious concern, both for the victim and indeed for the wider community.
By running this campaign in conjunction with the current Six Nations tournament, the partnership are addressing the issues surrounding alcohol related violence and the impact that getting involved in violent crime can have on an individual.
What is great about the campaign is that the partnership is also highlighting the measures that are being implemented in order to tackle the issues on behalf of the community. Local residents deserve to feel safe going about their day to day lives, and this campaign hopes to ensure just that."
For further information, please visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/saferccb
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