BBC Crimewatch Roadshow Highlights Community Safety Action on the Isle of Wight

Published on Wednesday, Aug 19 2009 by

Actions and achievements in maintaining the Isle of Wightas a safe place to live and visit were highlighted during a new series on national TV.

BBC One’s Crimewatch Roadshow visited the Island as part of a week of programmes featuring the work of Hampshire Constabulary and its community safety partners.

The BBC filmed various aspects of the dedicated policing operation at the Isle of Wight Festival outside SeacloseParkinNewport. The programme focused on the nationally recognised skills and tactics used to help achieve low levels of crime and disorder amongst an extra population of more than 60,000 people.

Police officers were filmed on duty in the Newportcustody centre, on foot, cycle and passive drug dog search patrols inFairlee Road outside the main arena, and working with the independent charity Cranstoun to treat people at risk from substance misuse.

Crimewatch Roadshow also focused on an Isle of Wight Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) initiative to tackle inappropriate graffiti and the offenders responsible.

The BBC interviewed Isle of Wight Council staff working on the local authority’s online gallery of graffiti tags, accompanied Council Environment and Neighbourhoods Officer (ENO) Linda Shorter on patrol looking for graffiti with Safer Neighbourhoods police officer PC Mick Baxter, and filmed IW Council contractors ‘Community Clean’ removing the graffiti with specialist equipment.

The programme culminated in BBC presenter Rav Wilding broadcasting live from The Needles Park. He interviewed Dog Support Unit Sergeant Dave Steele about reduced crime at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival, and spoke with West Wight Safer Neighbourhoods Inspector Paul Savill and Isle of Wight Council Community Safety Services Operations Manager Simon Dennis about an appeal to solve a series of thefts from car park meters across the Island.

Inspector Paul Savill said:  "The Crimewatch Roadshow programme highlighted to a national audience the results achieved by co-operation between the police, Isle of Wight Council, Cranstounand security companies. These combined efforts are vital to maintain neighbourhoods where people are safe and feel safe. The successful tactics and techniques employed at the Isle of Wight Festival have gone from strength to strength over a number of years, and are acknowledged as examples of good practice by other police forces."

Isle of Wight Council Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods Stuart Love said:  “Isle of Wight Council works very closely with its partners including the police to crack down on anti-social behaviour and reduce the fear of crime. Some people may not be fully aware of the work that goes on behind the scenes to continue to make sure the Isle of Wight remains one of the safest places in the UK. The BBC Crimewatch Roadshow sent out a reassuring message to a national audience that the council, Hampshire Constabulary and its partners are winning the battle to reduce crime and the fear of crime on theIsle of Wight.”

Click here to view the footage from this section of the roadshow.

BBC Crimewatch Roadshow highlights.