A scheme which provides “safe havens” for people in north Liverpool has been credited with a 29 percent fall in violent crime across the area.
CitySafe Havens involves shopkeepers, community centres and business owners offering their premises as safe-houses for people who are in immediate danger to go and seek refuge.
Since the launch of the programme in January 2011, knife crime has fallen by nearly one quarter and there has been a decrease of 47 per cent in criminal damage.
Robberies from local businesses have fallen by over 35 per cent, common assault has declined by nearly one third and drug crime has dropped by 10 per cent.
The scheme was founded by Disarm, a partnership between Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police and several education and criminal justice organisations that aim to tackle gun, knife and gang crime.
Youth inclusion programme Positive Futures North Liverpool also helped set up the project to ensure that young people were at the heart of the CitySafe Havens scheme.
The organisation asked representatives from County, Anfield, Kirkdale and Everton, to identify 35 public places that could be used as refuge for people feeling vulnerable or intimidated.
Shops, community centres and hospitals were selected throughout the areas with their premises being made secure and fitted with automatic locking systems. Staff also undertook child protection training as part of the initiative.
Barry Mizen, the father of murdered London school boy Jimmy Mizen, has been closely involved in the development of Liverpool’s CitySafe Havens.
The scheme has now been officially twinned with the knife crime project that Barry leads in south east London. Both initiatives share best practice and hope to role out the model across the UK.
Chief executive of Positive Futures North Liverpool Clare Corran said: “The significant reduction in crime figures is testament to the effort put in by the young people who were involved in the CitySafe Havens scheme. It also shows the power of peer-led projects.
“Young people have the credibility and respect amongst their peers to make a difference when it comes to educating people about violent crime.”
Serious Youth Violence Co-ordinator for Merseyside Police Inspector Mark Lawes said: “The CitySafe Havens initiative has had a “halo” effect, significantly reducing crime within 50 metres of all our 35 safe places.
“It’s vital that we understand why this has happened so we can spread this “halo effect” across the region. Liverpool was the first city outside London to set up safe havens and due to the success of the scheme, we’re hoping it will be adopted in other areas.”
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