Some of the inner-city areas are among the most heavily deprived in the country. For example, Farm Park area in Sparkbrook ward has received Neighbourhood Element funding of £100,000pa for 2 years to boost a move towards Neighbourhood Management.

What is the Local Delivery Group (LDG)?
Hall Green LDG (Local Delivery Group) meets every 6 weeks. It was first established in 2004 and developed an approach to local community safety at a district level, chaired / vice chaired by Fire Service and Police. LDG Coordinator appointed May 2005.

The LDG (Local Delivery Group) adopts the BCSP problem-solving approach, using an evidence-led basis for developing actions. Working in partnership, being able to seek and deploy resources and using an evidence-led approach are all key to the work of the LDG.

Hall Green LDG includes representation from Police, Fire Service, Housing, Constituency Manager, Youth Offending Team (YOT), Youth Services, Environmental Crime Unit (ECU), Regulatory Services, Safer Estates (ASB), Extended Clusters, Domestic Violence.

LDG provides updates / reports to the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (BCSP) and Constituency Strategic Partnership (DSP). CSP includes all 12 Councillors in the constituency.

LDG partners contribute towards the Birmingham Community Safety Strategy for 2005–2008 as well as local concerns in the Hall Green Constituency Community Plan.

LDG Priorities / Themes and Working Groups

Priorities were identified by the LDG after a needs analysis of Birmingham Community Safety Partnership data and amended in 2007/08.

How it works

Actions are not random. An evidence basis is required for action to be adopted as a priority eg Tactical Assessments, higher levels of crime in OCU or area, or seasonal increases that can be expected. Information and resources are then shared in partnership to help make progress and plan appropriate interventions. Analysis of the problem and possible solutions are undertaken. If a priority area or crime pattern emerges, the partnership discusses how it may be tackled.

Local community safety actions also contribute to citywide crime and disorder objectives.

The main (executive) LDG sets up Working Groups in order to tackle priorities, and forms an Action Plan to help make progress on the selected priority issues. Some Working Groups meet regularly; others arrange to meet on a ‘Task and Finish’ basis as required. Working Groups are tasked by LDG and report back to LDG. (This helps focus time in the main LDG meetings).

Some interventions can be achieved by direct funding, or alternatively, by accessing other potential resources. Progress is made by partnership work, sharing information and support. Funding interventions is not the only way to make progress. Other successes are achieved by sharing information or resources. Various contributions also made by the ward and constituency.

A small amount of funding is available to LDG to support project work, plus inputs and resources from various partner agencies. Various sources of funding are sought in order to deliver key  interventions including applications to BCSP .

Examples of work carried out

Burglary Reduction tackled as one of the main priorities identified over the last 18 months.
Domestic Violence campaigns
Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) and Criminal Damage poster campaigns
Anti Social Behaviour Responder vehicle to patrol streets
United Streets of Birmingham (USB) – various actions
Not In My Neighbourhood (NIMN) – various actions
Neighbourhood Tasking / Neighbourhood Policing meeting priorities addressed
Safer Estates – coverage of anti social behaviour expanded
Dispersal Orders (anti social behaviour)

Latest interventions (projects) include:

Burglary Reduction Initiative (constituency-wide)
Funding was secured from various sources such as NRF (Neighbourhood Renewal Fund), BTCG (Birmingham Community Safety Partnership) and Secured Sites. A wide range of prevention measures included: Gates, Target Hardening (physical home prevention measures – locks, chains, window alarms, shed alarms) advice, distraction burglary seasonal advice. 

Outcomes - Burglary rates have since reduced substantially in this constituency sine the package of measures was introduced.

• Hall Green constituency ranking for burglary rates improved from a ranking of 10th of ten (Nov 06), to 8th of ten during winter 2007 (latest rank tbc). A major change for the better.
• One of the 4 wards managed to reduce burglary rates by 45% over a 12 month period compared to an increase the previous year.
• Burglary rates all over Birmingham generally have been falling but the work carried out by LDG successfully reversed an adverse trend in the constituency by partnership working

• Some victims of domestic violence were also protected by the burglary reduction measures. For example, protection was offered to people needing reassurance from ex-partners who may return to the property.

Domestic Violence Survival Card
A card offered emergency advice and numbers for people suffering from domestic abuse or violence, to help them escape safely from dangerous partners. Survival Card also featured 6 community translations on the front of the card, so the card can be folded up and used in different areas that suit the community. The Survival Card also had information on VEV / Visual Evidence for Victims) to help get photographic evidence to use against perpetrators.  VEV shows that it doesn’t just have to be one person’s word against another. You can and should  be safe.

Domestic Violence campaign in Neighbourhood Offices.
Campaign in 3 Neighbourhood Offices in Hall Green constituency (Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Kings Heath). Helpful advice and posters displayed on plasma screens and reception areas to encourage earlier reporting. Variations of campaign prepared for Christmas and Valentines Day, times when family tension may increase. Campaign involved Ashram Housing, Victim Support as well as Council locations.

* SureStart family centres also became involved in the campaign using their plasma screens.

Anti Social Behaviour Responder Vehicle (for E3 OCU)
A special yellow vehicle was introduced specifically because public surveys (MORI) found that Anti Social Behaviour / troublesome Teenager was the top issue the public wanted to be tackled. ASB Responder frequently patrols problem areas and deals with ‘low’ level anti social behaviour. Public meetings (known as Neighbourhood Tasking) also provide information to guide the areas that the Responder patrols.
* Another Responder vehicle has also been introduced in 2008 just for Sparkbrook as part of  Neighbourhood Management.
 
Anti Social Behaviour & Graffiti / poster campaign
Three of the most useful phone numbers (chosen by community) were promoted in a poster and flyer campaign. Numbers included 24 hour anti social behaviour hotline, a way to report graffiti and abandoned cars, Crimestoppers to anonymously report information on crime. 
* Campaign piloted in Sparkbrook and Hall Green high streets and was later adapted citywide by Birmingham Community Safety Partnership (BCSP).

PSA1 and Environmental Crime
Ongoing work with ECU to deliver numerous actions in the constituency to combat environmental crime, criminal damage, graffiti

Reassurance Roadshows
Hall Green LDG joined together with Police Cop’N’Shop Days to offer crime prevention advice and tools to the public at garages. Supermarket roadshows were also held at Aldi (Sparkbrook) and Waitrose (Hall Green) plus other locations.

“Not In My Neighbourhood” – various actions (see below)
• Community Reassurance event (E2) = to reward volunteer involvement
• Community Recognition event (E3) to reward public involvement
• Car Crime Prevention Days (includes number plate theft protection – fast)
• Property Marking kits = home safety
• Timer Switches and energy saving lightbulbs – protect properties during darker nights
• Domestic Violence Awareness sessions
• Deterrent stickers = reassurance
• Special Recruitment campaign – to encourage more community involvement
• Ice Scrapers – A practical item with message on the front - to be given away at garages to raise awareness of car crime, number plate theft.

Neighbourhood Watch special packs
Materials included Timer Switches, Deterrent stickers, energy saving lightbulbs, Car Crime prevention and other special items. Packs were specially selected by community representatives following a visit to a Crime Reduction House to see a wide range of crime prevention materials. Favourite items were picked and subsequently ordered to use in their own neighbourhoods.

Road Safety
Police at Edward Road station worked with 4 schools in Sparkbrook (Conway, Montgomery, Ladypool, Christchurch) to improve road safety. In addition to police enforcement tickets and PCSO patrols at busy times around the school, something different was tried. Special “tickets” were designed by children and given out to try and shame drivers into improving their behaviour. 
* An arrest was made in the first week of this campaign.

United Streets of Birmingham 2 - campaign (Oct 22nd - Nov 6th 2007)
The second phase of this citywide campaign was launched in Hall Green constituency (Woodbridge Rd Police Station). Lots of activities and partnership took place in addition to the numerous Police activities at the heart of the campaign, Partnership support made available.

Here are just a few highlights:

• Radio and media interest from Heart Fm, BRMB and Evening Mail resulted in some good coverage over half term week (DV, ASB, Robbery). LDG Vice Chair Alan Pellowe on front cover of Police Newsbeat publication re United Streets
• Useful contacts made to promote future work eg domestic violence radio time slots
• Supermarket Roadshows at Aldi (Sparkbrook) and Waitrose (Hall Green)
• Fire Service organised a Road Safety event @ Bham Sports Centre
• Speedwatch (Hall Green) clamped down on speeding
• Considerate Parking Initiative (Hall Green)
• Zero Tolerance Parking day (Sparkbrook)
• Street Champions latest clean-up (Sparkbrook)
• Additional hi-vis patrols (Moseley wardens, Sparbrook warden, Regulatory Wardens)
• Trading Standards and ECU operations (eg Kings Heath)
• Burglary - proactive patrols to offer free help
• Housing walkabout @ Mary Street (Balsall Heath, Sparkbrook)
• EAGA project home safety (Sparkbrook) continued its drive to help 2,500 homes
• Volunteers helped deliver LDG criminal damage / environmental crime / Crimestoppers reporting leaflets
• Neighbourhood Watch event - USB leaflets, LDG display boards etc,
• USB T-Shirts worn by local volunteers on clean-ups and other events
• Youth Services - half term / other activities
• Bonfire and Halloween safety
• Stay Safe – schools
• Safer Travel

Previous interventions

• Domestic Violence World Cup campaign – targeting perpetrators
• Mela consultation event – involving Police, Fire Service, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Victim Support, LDG
• E2 OCU Anti Social Behaviour Responder Vehicle – to patrol ‘hotpots’
• Additional activities for young people as a positive diversion (as 'Feel The Difference' surveys indicating general concerns over troublesome teenagers)
• Drug and Alcohol Outreach project - support
• Domestic Violence district wide campaign to encourage people to report earlier
• Some legal actions eg Alcohol Restricted Zones, Dispersal Order areas and ASBOs (Anti Social Behaviour Orders) used when required
• LDG also helped secure Home Office funding to develop a Community Safety Champions initiative, subsequently praised by Government

Match funding was successfully obtained by LDG in most cases to add extra value to work.

Future plans

LAA / Local Area Agreement - The new LAA will influence priority setting and delivery. For example, there may be actions to deal with Burglary, Drugs, Cohesion. Robbery, Violence

Reassurance - more events to promote community and neighbourhood involvement. Neighbourhood Policing

LDG and links to Neighbourhood Management

In addition to the community safety role, Hall Green LDG assisted the process of neighbourhood management development in Sparkbrook during 2007-08. Some early achievements listed below:

A 100 day clean-up campaign (NPRG)
Arranged as part of Neighbourhood Performance Reward Grant (NPRG). An evaluation praised the work of the NPRG in Sparkbrook. Delegates from Denmark came to see the results. A film crew came to do a video of the work as part of the United Streets of Birmingham campaign. Sites were not just cleared but gated or improved to prevent repeat incidents. A development worker and Sparkbrook Neighbourhood Forum worked with various partners and resident street champions to deliver an excellent project.

EAGA project
• Around 2,500 homes in Sparkbrook were surveyed to make homes safer, covering 9,622 people.
• Once the EAGA assessments were completed, the number of homes that had a satisfactory working smoke alarm almost doubled from 50% to 90%.
• A survey to improve the public access to our services was also undertaken as part of the project. This included how to report graffiti, dumped rubbish etc.

LDG Contact details:

Chair or Vice Chair of Local Delivery Group (LDG) can be contacted via the LDG Coordinator.
LDG Coordinator: Andy Tipper Tel 0121 675 7930 andy.tipper@birmingham.gov.uk
LDG Chair: Chief Supt Jan Turner (E3 OCU, Police)
LDG Vice Chair: Alan Pellowe (Fire Service Area Commander, Birmingham South)