Delegates attending the eleventh annual Safer Stockport Partnership (SSP) conference heard how crime has continued to fall thanks to successful partnership working.
The SSP has helped deliver sustained crime reduction in Stockport over the last nine years with over 15,000 victims of crime. Over the nine year period all crime has been reduced by 51% and burglary in people’s houses by 52%.
Over 250 delegates from various organisations including councillors, the police, the probation service, schools and colleges and community groups attended the event on the 26th June at Cheshire Conference Centre.
Pictured (left to right) are Councillor Mark Weldon, Chief Superintendent Chris Sykes, by Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Eamonn Boylan, Tony Lloyd, Mohammed Farooq, Assistant Chief Executive (Stockport and Courts) of Greater Manchester Probation Trust and Debra Green.
The conference, which was opened by Councillor Mark Weldon, Deputy Leader of Stockport Council and Executive Member for Corporate, Customer and Community Services. It provided an opportunity for organisations to share information on how they work to successfully prevent crime and disorder in Stockport.
Councillor Mark Weldon, said: “It’s a remarkable achievement that crime has continued to fall in Stockport for the ninth consecutive year thanks to the highly successful partnership work of the SSP. However, we are not complacent and we are determined to ensure that crime continues to fall even further by building on the close working relationships with community groups and partner organisations.”
The conference was also addressed by Councillor Sue Derbyshire, the Leader of Stockport Council and the two Joint Chairs of the SSP, Chief Superintendent Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Stockport Council.
Guest speakers included Greater Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Tony Lloyd; Chief Executive of Stockport Homes, Helen McHale; and founder and Executive Director of Redeeming Our Communities (ROC), Debra Green OBE.
One of the highlights of the conference was the SSP Awards Ceremony where members of the community received a certificate of commendation for their contributions towards community safety.
Among those who received awards were a group of young people from Brinnington who are the ‘Fire Ambassadors’. Working with Brinnington Education Achievements Partnership (BEAP) these young people have been working to promote fire safety and raise awareness of the possible consequences of fires.
Chief Superintendent Chris Sykes from GMP, said: “The SSP could not achieve such positive outcomes in relation to community safety without the cooperation and support of the community. These awards allow us to recognise the best examples of volunteering and community involvement.”
For more information about the SSP visit www.saferstockport.org.uk or call 0161 474 3143. Residents can also follow the SSP on Twitter @SaferStockport.
The SSP joins together many public and voluntary organisations, including Stockport Council, Police, Health Service, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Stockport Probation Service and Victim Support.