Communications Strategy

Introduction

The West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership was formed to meet the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Its purpose is to find ways to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour and substance misuse in the area of West Lincolnshire.

It consists of Lincoln City Council, West Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, Lincolnshire Police, Lincolnshire Police Authority, West Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust and other statutory and voluntary agencies, businesses and community groups.

Publicity generated internally to members, and externally via the media, will boost support and recognition of the work of the West Lincs CSP towards achieving its strategic aims and objectives.

Aim

The aim of the communications strategy is to raise public and member awareness about the work carried out by the Community Safety Partnership to reduce crime and fear of crime in the community. 

This will include demonstrating how the Community Safety Partnership is striving to:

• Tackle the causes and consequences of drug and alcohol misuse
• Reducing Violent Crime
• Encouraging Community Cohesion
• Dealing with priority and prolific offenders
• Address quality of life issues including anti-social behaviour and victimisation
• Build for the future by working with young people and monitoring emerging issues

Plan of Action

A news release will be issued about the West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership plan 2008 – 11 giving an overview about the work of the Community Safety Partnership and its priorities. This will bring the Community Safety Partnership as an organisation into the public eye and highlight the way forward for publicity. 

It can include quotes from the main partner agencies involved, with representatives making themselves available for a photo and interview opportunity outside a key landmark for the area.

Utilising Communication Officers throughout the area and organisations to push Community Safety Partnership progress towards achieving its priorities through the local media. This will focus on how the Community Safety Partnership is carrying out the projects agreed through the Partnership Plan and Thematic Action Plans.

Regular photo opportunities and updates could include:

• Community clean-ups to tackle graffiti, litter and vandalism
• Anti-social behaviour crackdowns with numbers of warning letters sent to parents boosting community confidence to increase incidents reported
• Workshops with young people to prevent re-offending
• Case studies of people who have successfully entered drug or alcohol treatment programmes
• Awareness-raising initiatives about effects of drinking alcohol and encouraging licensing industry to take on more responsibility about this
• Crime prevention ‘door-knocking’ and leaflet drops to reduce burglary and fear of crime
• Programmes that promote a positive lifestyle for young people

To maintain a sense of corporacy and encourage branding in the media, publicity should make frequent reference to the term West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership.

Key spokespeople to be identified for media interviews to ensure a consistent message is being given e.g. through the Chair of the Strategic or Chair of a Thematic Group spearheading an initiative.

Staffs working for West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership members also need to be aware of its progress and how they contribute towards it. A separate two-sided A4 newsletter could be sent quarterly, Explaining and updating on progress.

Other communications tools to consider include: intranet and internet sites, posters for notice boards and email bulletins.

Target Audience

• West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership staff members need to be fully supportive and conversant about the role of the West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership, especially those coming into contact with the public.
• The communities served by the West Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership with particular emphasis on the more vulnerable groups like the elderly, young people, new communities and hard to hear/reach groups.

Key Messages

• West Lincolnshire is a safe place to live, work, learn and socialise
• The chances of you becoming a victim of crime are rare - the fear is far greater than the reality
• Most violent crime takes place around nightclubs in the city centre in the early hours at a weekend and is usually fuelled by alcohol – not when you’re walking down the street in daylight
• Free and simple crime prevention steps, like keeping doors and windows locked, make a real difference and greatly cut the chance of you becoming a crime victim.
• We will look to find long term solutions to improve the quality of life for people – not ‘quick fixes’
• People deserve to be able to live their lives peacefully and without fear or disruption
• We are committed to find ways to reduce crime that is drug and alcohol-related which impacts on innocent peoples lives
• Bringing together the expertise of different agencies we’ll achieve far more for the community than if we worked in isolatio