OVER the summer, to give local residents the chance to meet us and see what we do, the partnership has been represented at a number of community events.

These have included Kidderminster Fire Station Open Day, Spring into Summer at Springfield Park, Bewdley and Kidderminster carnivals, Under-5s Play Day, the Borrington Bash, Churchill and Blakedown Fete, Showcase of Services for Older People and Far Forest Show. This year, WFCSP was pleased to welcome the Targeted Youth Support and SPACE (Substance Prevention Acceptance Confidentiality Education) teams to join us at Bewdley and Kidderminster carnivals and the Borrington Bash.

They drew in a young crowd who were keen to try out the ‘beer goggles’ (special glasses which make the wearer feel disorientated, as if they are drunk) and also get some serious advice about drugs and alcohol. The positive for us was that a lot of young people that would normally walk past our stall, stopped to see what was going on.

The WFCSP team offered advice and gave away a number of goodies, including property marking kits, purse bells and tax disc holders with the ‘leave it on show, expect it to go’ message, as a reminder to Wyre Forest folk not to leave valuables in their cars when unattended.

We encouraged visitors to the stall to complete a short questionnaire and were pleased to find out that 57 per cent who completed the survey were already aware of the WFCSP. Over 45 per cent of respondents said they felt safer in their local area than they did last year and more than half said they would like to find out more about the WFCSP through a quarterly newsletter.

We asked what areas of community safety were most important to residents and found that we are already working hard in areas that residents highlighted as being of major concern (violent crime, anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime and burglary). It’s very important that we know what Wyre Forest residents want and address their concerns to the best of our ability.

If you would like to receive a copy of the WFCSP newsletter, please telephone Jeannette Lane on 01562 732929, or e-mail community.safety@wyreforestdc.gov.uk We will also be at Stourport Carnival on September 4 with Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service. Please come and see us!

HELEN DYKE Chairman