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Multi Agency Walkabouts - Dates for 2010

As their name suggests, Multi Agency walkabouts include people from local agencies so that issues affecting the whole community, can be addressed and solutions found to specific problems.  The local police, Councillors, Borough Council and where applicable, the Improving Neighbourhoods team take part as well as Freebridge's Housing Officers and area support personnel.

Freebridge also fields its own Housing Officers and support personnel who are responsible for the area. This mix of people allows a broad and effective approach to problem solving.  Any follow up action resulting from walkabout items will also involve participating agencies working together to find a solution. 

Walkabouts are rotated so that each location receives a visit every seven months or so and targets are set to have any previous actions concluded prior to the next event.

Southern Area – 20th January at 10 am

Gaywood – 17th February at 10 am

Hillington Square and Town Centre – 24th March at 10 am

South Lynn – 21st April at 10 am

Northern Area – 19th May at 10 am

Fairstead – 23rd June at 10 am

North Lynn – 21st July at 10 am

Southern Area - 18th August at 10 am

Gaywood – 22nd September at 10 am

Hillington Square and Town Centre – 20th October at 10am

South Lynn – 17th November at 10 am

Northern Area – 15th December at 10 am

Agenda’s are published and circulated prior to these events, residents are encouraged to both contribute and participate where they can, tenant focus groups are often consulted on specific issues affecting them. Housing officer contact details can be downloaded in pdf below.

An example illustrating the beneficial joined up approach to the walkabouts relates to the provision of a security gate in a communal stairwell located in one of our larger communal complexes in King’s Lynn.  The stairwell groundfloor access was uncontrolled resulting in anti social behaviour on the part of a few individuals which impacted on everyone using the stairwell.  The police, Improving Neighbourhood Team and Freebridge worked together to solve the problem by dispersing the offending people, the strategic location of ‘alcohol free zone’ signs and the fitting of an electronically controlled access gate in the stairwell concerned.  Access was restricted to upper floor residents of the complex by a system of fob/reader which greatly reduced the incidents of ASB in the area.  A number of other joint initiatives have been successfully concluded at this location which has received two Multi Agency walkabouts within the last twelve months.

Examples of other successful projects include:

• Soft fencing project resulting from consultation with Crime Reduction & Architectural Liaison Officer and Improving Neighbourhoods Team.
• Introduction of re-cycling management facilities in consultation with the Borough Council.
• Public space white lighting initiative resulting from consultation with Crime Reduction & Architectural Liaison Officer and Freebridge Assets Team.

The following represents a collective view of our partners and residents regarding the benefits provided by the Multi Agency Walkabouts.

PC Steve Gower, Crime Reduction & Architectural Liaison Officer, says of the walkabouts:
“The Freebridge multi agency walks are a chance to see, first hand, the challenges communities face and decide together on the best way to problem solve any issues. It is also a chance to check on the progress being made on going projects. Of course many of the older developments were not constructed with crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles in mind and refurbishments are sometimes required. The new developments Freebridge are considering involve early consultation with the Constabulary with a view to gaining the “Secured By Design” Police Award to recognise the efforts made in providing a safer more secure home for future residents.”
 
Mr Carl Suckiling, Assistant Neighbourhood Manager, Improving Neighbourhoods Team, stated the following:
"By organising multi agency walkabouts we can all share the problems in the target areas and use each others skills and knowledge to ensure that solutions are found quickly.
The walkabouts are a great way to get right to the root of the problem and build community confidence. The walkabouts are visible to residents and can provide reassurance to them.”

Mr Karl Weeks, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk CCTV Operations Manager, had this to say about the walkabouts:
“Over the years CCTV has seen varying changes across the estate since the cameras were first installed back in 1992. One of the recent changes that have benefited from an operators perspective is how the White Lighting provision has improved coverage across the estate, this has assisted with the quality of images and therefore in my view improved CCTV across the estate. Working together with Freebridge we can try to address those issues to make Hillington Square a safe place to live”.

Freebridge is constantly reviewing ways of making the Walkabouts more relevant to your needs and we would appreciate any constructive feedback about issues affecting you that could be the focus of the next walkabout in your area.  It is vitaly important to us that your voice is heard and acted upon so that you can benefit from these events in the future, making your street and home a better place to live. 

Together we can achieve it.

Downloads:

Area Walkabout Dates for 2010.pdf

Housing Officer Patches (March 09) (2).pdf