Our community safety role at South Staffordshire Council sees the authority work closely with partners to drive down crime in the district, identify key issues, and make residents and businesses feel safe.
Officer Maggie Quinn has been involved with community safety and partnership working at South Staffordshire Council for nearly 23 years – and during that time she’s played a key role in the implementation of a range of schemes and policies to the benefit of the local community.
Despite having a very low crime rate, South Staffordshire has its share of ever-changing challenges which are identified and tackled through the district’s Community Safety Partnership, which Maggie was key in setting up back in the early noughties.
Some of the top initiatives she’s been involved in include closing down a hotel which was impacting on local villagers due to intimidating behaviour which included drug taking, verbal abuse, and vehicles coming and going at all times of the night.
Her work with the Community Safety Partnership recently saw the gifting of Ring doorbells to a range of vulnerable residents across the district. South Staffordshire pioneered the project which, once a proven success, was rolled out across the county.
Investment in Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and other technology has also assisted in driving down cross-border crime in South Staffordshire – something the rural district is challenged by, due to its close proximity to built-up metropolitan locations at its boundaries.
When asked why she enjoys working in community safety, Maggie cited being able to ‘make a difference’ as a key driver.
“I enjoy helping the community, making a difference for the better, and helping people to maintain a good quality of life,” said Maggie.
“It's very diverse work – no day is ever the same. It’s becoming faster paced too, with things constantly evolving quickly, meaning we’re able to do more than ever before.
“I also enjoy building relationships with other organisations and getting to work with outside partners.”
Community safety is a term used to describe a partnership approach to reducing crime and disorder in local communities.
The Community Safety Partnership is made up of representatives from South Staffordshire Council, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Police, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Health and Probation Services.
The partnership works to prevent and reduce crime and reoffending, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, harm caused by substance misuse, modern day slavery and serious violence including violence against women and girls. Other areas within the umbrella of community safety include safeguarding, youth justice, integrated offender management, counter terrorism, and community cohesion.
For free, regular email updates on key initiatives being run by the Community Safety Partnership and stats, such as the latest crime figures, sign up via this link.
Community safety: Some key facts and figures
- South Staffordshire saw a 54% reduction in antisocial behaviour during 2022
- 33 organisations work together to keep the district safe
- 27 parish councils have a designated police liason
- 22 CCTV cameras have been deployed to hotspot areas
- Six Public Space Protection Orders are in place to deter antisocial behaviour