South Yorkshire People United Against Crime - Portfolio of Activities 2000

South Yorkshire People United Against Crime

In Partnership With

The project to establish 'Car Park Watch' across South Yorkshire had three elements to it. Firstly to sign up all car park providers and get them to display the prominent signage as a member of the scheme. Secondly to encourage members to join a radio pager system. Finally to distribute a 'Rogues Gallery' of photographs of known thieves who might operate in the area.

The second initiative was a campaign encouraging motorists not to leave valuable items on display in their vehicles. 75,000 of the 'Don't Bother' cards were distributed. The eye-catching cards were for display in windscreens to tell thieves that valuables were not left in the car.

Statistics show that two-thirds of prisoners re-offend within two years of being released from prison. Studies also show that a full-time job or education helps prevent re-offending.

People United Against Crime worked with the Department for Education and Skills and the Prison Service to produce a CD-ROM informing prisoners about what courses were available in their area following release from prison.

'Fair Chance' the disc carried information about 1,100 courses provided by 300 education or training agencies available in the region. Hundreds of the CD-ROMs were distributed for use by Resettlement personnel in prisons across Yorkshire and the Humber.

In 2001 People United Against Crime was approched by Sheffield's four seperate PubWatches with a view to amalgamating them into one movement to serve the licensed trade.

Working collaboratively with South Yorkshire Police and the Licensing Justices, People United Against Crime was able to organise a unified and more efficient PubWatch with over 600 members.

Since those early days Sheffield LicenceWatch, as it is now called, has become a beacon of good practice, offering a radio scheme, drugs awareness training and many other services.