Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Spring 2022 newsletter

The number of school workshops delivered across Hinckley & Bosworth exceed previous target

Following an uncertain and unprecedented time, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s community safety team along with its partners are back working with pupils, delivering workshops, assemblies and events and so far have worked with more than 3000 children and young people in the past six months.

Working in more than 17 primary and secondary schools already, there are many more schools booked in for the next term and staff are hopeful of exceeding targets set in previous years.

Workshops that have been delivered in primary schools consist of anti-social behaviour (ASB) Busters, an interactive workshop about anti-social behaviour looking at how services tackle issues such as littering, graffiti and dog fouling and the actions taken against those offending, a diversity workshop exploring how everyone is different and unique and fire safety assemblies delivered by Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service.

A new workshop is also being offered this year which focuses on wellbeing and help pupils to deal with their emotions and identify what might positively and negatively affect their wellbeing.

Working in partnership with Hinckley & Bosworth Police, Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service, safer driving events have been delivered to sixth formers at Hinckley Academy & John Cleveland Sixth Form College and Brookvale Groby Learning Campus.

Students took part in a varied and interactive programme which focused on what not to do when driving, using demonstrations, presentations and interactive displays such as wearing virtual reality headsets, making mocktails, taking part in an alcohol and drug quiz.

They watched the fire service demonstrate how to remove an injured person from a vehicle that has been involved in a crash using the ‘Jaws of Life’ to safely cut open and remove the doors, boot and roof of a car.

A range of assemblies and talks have been delivered to secondary schools on healthy relationships and substance misuse and anti-social behaviour. 

Cllr Mullaney, portfolio holder for Community Safety said: “We are thrilled to be able to go back into schools and work with pupils in an interactive way to get across vital messages that will ensure that young people are provided with the information to make invaluable choices and decisions which affect them. Delivering workshops face to face enables the pupils to interact and ask questions and talk with members of staff and take part in exercises and group activities”.

For further information about the school workshops available, please contact the community safety team at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council on 01455 255746.

Last Orders – A production by Solomon Theatre Company

Following the success of the production commissioned in 2018, Blaby District Council were pleased to be able to bring ‘Last Orders’ to Blaby District schools once again. The production is an Alcohol and Sexual Health Educational Show for key Stage three and Key stage four students.

Last Orders tells the story of two young girls as they embark on a night of binge-drinking at home with disastrous outcomes. An older boy takes advantage of the intoxicated under-age girls with serious and long-term consequences.

Following the performances at Countesthorpe Leysland Community College and Winstanley Community College, there was a question and answer workshop with the characters of the production, which was thought provoking and impactful for the audience. At the end, it was revealed the play was based on a true story where one of the drunken teens died.

Feedback from some of the students was that they had changed their views of the impact of underage drinking and also consensual sex. Teacher feedback was around the fact that the sessions were commissioned by Blaby District Council, and it was so positive to have a live show in the colleges after the pandemic when even teaching was virtual at times.

Cllr Phillimore, portfolio holder for Housing, Community and Environmental Services said: “This workshop was a great opportunity for young people to be taught in a new, interactive way as opposed to typical classroom lessons, bringing awareness to real issues young people don’t always recognise. After the success of these performances, we will be working to bring this opportunity to more schools across the area.”

Solomon is a touring theatre in education company, offering impactful performances and workshops that focus on hard hitting issues that influence young people, such as drugs, alcohol, law, crime, gangs, relationships and sexual exploitation.

For more information please visit Solomon Theatre Company (solomontheatre.co.uk).

£10,000 fund to help combat speeding drivers in Hinckley

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council has set aside £10,000 in a bid to tackle speeding motorists in areas of Hinckley.

The funds will pay for a Motor Vehicle Activated Sign (MVAS) box to inform motorists of the speed they are driving at and record vehicle speed as well as the posts needed to put the sign in place. The funding will also support Neighbourhood Watch who take an active role in tackling speeding in the area.

The money was pledged at the Council’s Hinckley Area Committee meeting, after considering the request from the police, Neighbourhood Watch (NHW), ward councillors and the community safety team. The Hinckley Area Committee gives consideration to budget and spending matters relating to the Hinckley special expenses area which all Hinckley residents contribute to.

Before the meeting, residents across Hinckley had been voicing concerns about speeding in various areas of the town.

Once purchased, the new sign will be portable and can be used in various locations. It will be monitored by Neighbourhood Watch teams who will progress action with other partners such as the police, community safety and the county council.

Councillor Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Community Safety, said: "We have had one MVAS box for a number of years. However, having just one box means we can’t cover as many locations as we would like to since the box has to be up for a few weeks and then taken down. Results then need to be assessed before it’s placed in another location. This funding will help to cover more areas that have been highlighted as areas of concern by residents. This means that data can be collected on a regular basis and if further action is needed, we can liaise with the county council to tackle the speeding issues in that area."

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr David Bill said: “These devices will soon be installed all over Hinckley and coincides with another breakthrough, the long anticipated 40 mph signs have been uncovered on the northern perimeter road. The lowering of the speed limit between Roston Drive and Stoke Road was one of the measures we were able to impose on the back of the Bloors development which is rapidly taking shape alongside the road. These two schemes should make a real contribution to making our roads safer for all of us.”

Last updated: 26/05/2022 11:00