StreetSafe guiding the way for police work

Officers are encouraging people to continue sharing their concerns after information from an online feedback tool has successfully boosted their work in a Derbyshire community.

StreetSafe is a service for anyone to anonymously tell us about public places where you have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, e.g. street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, e.g. being followed or verbally abused.

The information will then get passed to the most appropriate agency for them to establish what can and needs to be done.

The Amber Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team, in particular, have found this information invaluable. One recent case saw an anonymous report of a person being followed and feeling unsafe in a particular part of the area.

PCSO Supervisor Jennifer Lorimer, from the Amber Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “Whilst this was very recent and enquiries are ongoing to get more information and identify people, this information from StreetSafe has allowed us to take a closer look at that specific area.

“There have been no other similar issues reported in the area but of course we are treating this seriously.

“Initially, we were able to target our Derbyshire Alert messages to that area, specifically to try and identify the person who provided this feedback.

“We have also been able to direct a few members of the team to do regular visits of the area and over the coming weeks and months we’re bringing some of the ‘cuppa with a copper’ events over to the area.

“This will allow more of the community to speak to us in that informal environment and offer more opportunity to engage with people in the areas that are reporting that they need or want it, and to make sure our resources are having the most impact.”

The tool was launched in September 2021 across England and Wales as a pilot for three months. Following its success, Home Office Ministers have announced the extension of the pilot to the end of the financial year.

Since its launch StreetSafe has been used for nearly 450 reports in Derbyshire, all of which have been forwarded to local Inspectors and Community Safety Partnership.

Your reports can make a real difference.

You can use StreetSafe to map specific locations that have made them feel unsafe and explain why – regardless of whether a crime has occurred.

Please note you should still use the usual methods to report a crime to us, but use StreetSafe to tell us how an area’s safety could be improved.

You can find the StreetSafe reporting tool here. 

You can also log issues via our community messaging system, Derbyshire Alert and take our Derbyshire Talking survey here.