06 February 2009
The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership was recently selected to showcase its award-winning CANDO (Community and Neighbourhood Directed Operations) scheme at a prestigious Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) "Excellence Wales" event.
The Excellence Wales "Our Council – Collaboration in the public services" event, held in Llandrindod Wells recently, showcased some commended examples of joint operational service delivery – The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership was commended in March 2008 for its innovative CANDO scheme, and members of the partnership were invited along to present the details and successes of the initiative.
CANDO is an initiative that works with communities throughout the Caerphilly county borough to identify local solutions to local problems, providing a high visibility presence to tackle the identified issues.
To date, 8 CANDO operations have been held in areas including Caerphilly town centre, Blackwood town centre, Pontllanfraith, Pengam, St Cattwg, Penyrheol, Twyn Carno and Risca.
The CANDO scheme was first introduced to further reduce levels of crime and disorder and fear of crime in the local area – despite significant reductions in instances of crime however, public perception levels remained disproportionately high. Much of this was being determined through low-level "signal" crimes that are often linked to anti social behaviour, such as broken windows, litter and graffiti.
The initiative therefore encourages partners to work together and involve the local community in making the CANDO a success.
Communities are first consulted on problems in their areas, before an action plan is implemented to address these issues, by utilising resources from all of the partners.
Past operations have seen efforts to increase awareness of security and crime prevention, as well as undertaking graffiti removal, litter-picks, removal of abandoned vehicles, fly-tipping and stray dogs.
Operations to target anti social behaviour and identifying licensed premises that sell alcohol to underage drinkers have also been included in previous CANDOs.
Local organisations that have taken part in previous CANDO schemes include:
- Gwent Police
- Gwent Probation Service
- CCBC's Cleansing Department
- CCBC's Community Safety Wardens
- CCBC's CCTV operators
- CCBC's Environmental Health Department
- Keep Wales Tidy
- Local Youth Offending Service (YOS)
- Forestry Commission
Community Safety Manager, Howard Rees said, "We are delighted that the CANDO scheme was recognised for the full range of benefits it can bring to the local community at the Excellence Wales awards last year.
To be invited along to showcase such an innovative initiative at the "Collaboration in the public services" event was a great honour – we are keen to share our knowledge, experiences and successes of the CANDO scheme with our colleagues in other public sector organisations throughout Wales.
We are also keen to highlight how by engaging with local communities and working with partner agencies to apply local solutions to highlighted problems, a real, positive difference can be made to those communities.
The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership is a multi agency organisation, whose five statutory bodies are Caerphilly County Borough Council, Gwent Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, Caerphilly teaching Local Health Board and Gwent Police Authority. It works to reduce levels of crime, disorder, anti social behaviour and fear of crime in the local area.
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