Next week Isle of Wight residents can get interactive against criminal damage in their community with the launch of the first-ever ‘Not In My Neighbourhood Week.’  Residents will be encouraged to record and report any incidents of criminal damage in their area, no matter how small it may be.

Hampshire Constabulary, in association with local partners, is tackling criminal damage across the two counties as part of the national campaign, which aims to show residents how they can make their community safer and help keep crime down.

The Home Office led campaign will take place over a week from Monday, October 15th 2007. ˜Not in my Neighbourhood Week is an initiative being undertaken by the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP) to reduce the amount of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and alcohol misuse in an area. 

Last year, the estimated cost of criminal damage across Hampshire came to £16.5 million. From April 2006 to March 2007 there were 45,387 reported incidents of criminal damage. 

There are however only a minority of streets in the county that have a continued problem with acts of criminal damage. 

CDRPs are urging residents to record and report any incidents of criminal damage in their area, no matter how small it may be. Officers will be in the worst effected areas handing out record cards for residents to use; this can then be used as evidence for the police. 

Witnesses are also being encouraged to call Hampshire Police or Crimestoppers if they have any information about the perpetrator causing the damage in their area. 

Partnership Chief Inspector Kory Thorne said:

This is a joint initiative with the police and local authorities and we will be working together across the county to help reassure the public that work is being done to improve their community and make it a safer place for people to live. Criminal damage has a huge effect on local residents and we are determined to reduce the number of incidents throughout Hampshire.

Island Pulse.