FUNDING FOR PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES

Funding has been put into local people's priorities to help improve Thanet and tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Residents were asked what their priorities were earlier this year, with anti-social behaviour and criminal damage concerning more than 80% of people who responded. More than 60% were concerned about violent attacks and nuisance vehicles, while dog fouling and litter were also identified as other problems in the area.

As part of the consultation, people were also asked for their views on how £20,000 from the Home Office, which was part of Thanet's successful bid to be a Neighbourhood Crime and Justice Area, should be allocated. Nine ideas were put forward, following feedback from local PACT (Partners and Communities Together) panels, local residents and councilors.

Following that, the community safety team has distributed biodegradable dog fouling bags to vets surgeries in Thanet.

Another popular option was adding shrubbery and, as a result, money has been given to local groups, including the Spencer Square Residents Association and the Chichester Road Flowers Group in Ramsgate, as well as Nethercourt caravan park in Ramsgate, for plants in those areas.

Crime contact cards have also been developed, which provide people in Cliftonville West with contact details for their local PC's, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), community wardens and thanet councils number. Lockable notice boards have also been installed in Dane Valley

Community Safety Coordinator Jessica Bailey said: "We've listened to local people's views on projects that would make a difference to their lives and help to further improve safety in Thanet. The figures already tell the story of how much of a difference we've made to people's lives, with criminal damage halved, burglaries down by 70% and violent attacks cut by a quarter since last year."

She added: "It's clear that dog fouling, in particular, is an issue that really matters to residents and that's why we've introduced the biodegradable dog bags. You only have to look at the figures to see that it is an issue in Thanet. Last year, Thanet's dog wardens issued 70 tickets to people who failed to pick up after their dogs, compared to just eight in Canterbury and four in Dover."