An independent report by the Audit Commission has found local residents generally feel safe in the borough, believe Ashford Borough Council works effectively with the police and other partners to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime at an operational level, and Ashford is a relatively safe place to live.

The report also goes on to say that the Council has focussed on designing safer communities into Ashford’s growth plans and has worked to improve safety and the quality of life of existing neighbourhoods.

The Audit Commission inspection team gave the community safety service provided by the Council a ‘fair’ one star rating. To further improve the service, the inspectors made a number of recommendations, including:

• To strengthen the way that the Council manages the contribution made to community safety by all its services, and resolve funding issues.
• To develop effective arrangements for sharing and analysing information about anti-social behaviour.
• To improve consultation and communication with the public and within the Council.

Cllr Michael Claughton, portfolio holder for community safety, said; “Ashford has been judged a safe place to live - and our work with our partners is proving effective in tackling anti-social behaviour and crime.

“We acknowledge that there are areas for improvement and, although the public was consulted on our community safety plans via the parish, community, youth and diversity forums, we intend to continue to develop initiatives to strengthen public involvement and participation such as community roadshows and themed educational events.

“The Audit Commission’s report was written as a ‘snapshot’ of community safety, following interviews with focus groups, a review of documentation and a ‘whistle stop’ tour of part of our lovely, but large, borough during one morning.

“I am confident had the inspectors been able to spend more time here then they would have picked up on the general feeling I receive from residents, that Ashford is a safe place to live, work and play”.

The inspection, conducted in May 2008, looked at the way the Council meets the needs of the community and delivers against local and national targets agreed with its partners in the Community Safety Partnership.

In assessing the Council’s performance, inspectors compared Ashford with other boroughs and districts in Kent and with its ‘most similar family’ group - councils across England identified by the Home Office as having similar characteristics.

Media Release 0239/08

8/09/2008