Crime and safety

Crime and community safety are key concerns for communities, even in low crime areas, such as the High Peak.

It affects many people in a variety of ways, be it fear of crime, experiencing nuisance or being a victim of crime. A safe community is central to the quality of life and contributes to the High Peak being a place where people want to live, work and visit.

The complex issues of crime and community safety can only be tackled when agencies, organisations, businesses and communities work together in partnership.

Since 1998, High Peak Borough Council has been a leading partner on the High Peak Community Safety Partnership. The High Peak community safety partnership sets priorities, manages resources and monitors the activity of the partnership.

The Community Safety Team undertakes the day-to-day work of the partnership. The team is based at Buxton Town Hall, and includes a Community Protection Officer and a Police Sergeant seconded to the department.

Information on what you should do if you experience anti-social behaviour in the area where you live.  Also, advice on how to prevent crime and how to keep you, your family and property safe.

Derbyshire WISH North Domestic Abuse Support Services

Derbyshire WISH North provides Accommodation Based and Floating Support services throughout the High Peak.  The service is available to individuals and families (both male and female) who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Accommodation Based Support is provided via communal refuge (female only) and individual accommodation (both male and female).  Pets may also be accepted in individual accommodation.

Floating Support Service is specialist domestic abuse, tenancy related support and is available to both men and women who are living in their own homes. Regular weekly support sessions are planned with the individual and can take place either in the person’s home (if it is safe to do so) or at an agreed safe venue within the community. 

The support WISH offer is structured to individual need and can include:

• Safety Planning
• Support with finding the right place to live
• Accessing benefits, managing budgets etc.
• Accessing legal service
• Accessing health care
• Finding out about and accessing community organisations
• Accessing cultural and religious organisations
• Accessing education, volunteering and employment.

You can ring WISH North directly on 01457 857714 or email  WISHNorthUsers@ncha.org.uk in High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales or be referrred from an outside agency such as your doctor, police, health visitors, Women's Aid, mens services and housing officers.

Should you need advice and support out of hours, you can call trained NCHA staff at the SMaRT service on 0845 650 5599 or text 07950 150 092

Your details and any personal information given with be held in the strictest of confidence.

Loan Sharks

As money gets tight, more and more people may be tempted to turn to quick fix loans from illegal money lenders.

This can quickly lead to more debt and a feeling that there's nowhere to turn - until now. Derbyshire County Council's trading standards team is working closely with East Midlands illegal money lending unit the Public Protection Project Team to crack down on loan sharks who prey on vulnerable people.

The team works with voluntary groups such as Victim Support, Citizens Advice and Credit Unions to provide support to victims of loan sharks. It also enforces the law by making arrests and putting loan sharks in prison.

If you have been stung by a loan shark and want to report your concerns, or you'd like advice and information you can call the Public Protection Project Team's confidential helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 01332 644 000.

Farm Watch and Rural Crime

Derbyshire’s dedicated Farm Watch aims to shut the gate on rural crime – and needs your help

Farmers in Derbyshire are being urged to take advantage of a free crime prevention service aimed at protecting the county’s rural communities.

Farm Watch will be the county’s first dedicated alert system specifically aimed at fighting rural crime.

The aim is for it to strengthen community spirit, encourage vigilance and help reduce the opportunity for crime to happen in the first place by the swift sharing of information.

For it to work, Derbyshire Constabulary needs you to sign up to Farm Watch for free.

When someone reports a crime such as the theft of agricultural equipment, messages will be sent out to everyone signed up to the scheme urging them to be on the lookout.

The same goes for issues such as suspicious vehicle sightings – if it’s reported, police and Farm Watch members can share that information with the whole farming community quickly and try to stop crime before it happens.

Superintendent Graham McLaughlin said: “The purpose of Farm Watch is to protect our rural communities by sharing information as quickly as possible.

“That can be through Farm Watch members talking to each other as well as to police, so we can work together and stamp out this type of crime in Derbyshire.

“Together with the community, who are the eyes and ears out in the countryside, we will be able to shut the gate on rural crime and ensure that the risk of becoming a victim is slashed with it.

“But for it to work properly, we need as many people as possible to sign up.”

The scheme launches in April initially for the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak areas and is a joint project between the police and the local authorities in both of those areas of the county.

Benefits members will receive include:
• Practical crime prevention advice to farmers and landowners, to help ensure their property and goods are as secure as possible;
• A property marking scheme to make it harder for thieves to dispose of stolen goods;
• A text, email or voicemail alert service;
• A dedicated page at www.derbyshire.police.uk to keep members updated with the latest rural crimes, trends and prevention tips.
It will be powered by the constabulary’s Derbyshire Alert service, a free messaging system that sends appeals or crime prevention messages to tens of thousands of recipients via text, email or voice message.

Those signing up for Farm Watch will receive information relating to rural crime, such as livestock rustling, oil theft, vehicle theft, burglary, trespass and criminal damage.
Farmers can sign up at Bakewell or Leek farmers’ markets over the next few weeks or online at www.derbyshirealert.co.uk.

Warning signs for your gates and property will be given out so criminals will be aware that you are a member of Farm Watch and that your property is protected.

There are also prizes up for grabs including disc locks and Tracker alert systems to those who sign up.

For more information, call your local Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101.