Staffordshire County Council will consider its first‑ever Community Safety Strategy, a new three‑year plan designed to make neighbourhoods across the county safer, stronger and more resilient.
Set to go before Cabinet in February following scrutiny by the Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 January, the strategy outlines how the county council and its partners will work together to protect vulnerable people, reduce crime and anti‑social behaviour, and give communities a greater say in shaping where they live -from rural villages to market towns and urban centres.
For the first time, the council has set out its own organisational blueprint for community safety, built around:
- Prevention
- Early action
- Shared responsibility
This approach aims to stop problems long before they escalate, strengthen local resilience, and ensure residents feel safer, supported and confident in their neighbourhoods.
The strategy represents a shift from reactive responses to a system that actively tackles the root causes of harm and prioritises the wellbeing of vulnerable people.
The new strategy focuses on four core priorities:
1. Protecting Vulnerable People
Providing targeted, practical support for those most at risk — including individuals facing exploitation, abuse, neglect or other safeguarding concerns.
2. Safer and Stronger Places
Creating neighbourhoods that are safe, proud and resilient, with local communities playing a central role in setting priorities and shaping local action.
3. Prevention
Addressing the root causes of harm before they take hold — from early help for families and young people to interventions that reduce anti‑social behaviour.
4. Effective Partnerships and Accountability
Setting clear expectations for all agencies involved in community safety, including how responsibilities are shared, how progress will be measured, and how residents will see results.
The council says the strategy will support communities across Staffordshire by:
- Strengthening collaboration between councils, police, health services, schools and voluntary organisations
- Improving data‑sharing and early‑warning systems
- Giving communities a stronger voice in decisions that affect them
- Ensuring interventions are joined up, efficient and focused on long‑term outcomes
With community safety challenges becoming increasingly complex, the strategy aims to modernise how local partners work together and ensure Staffordshire’s towns, villages and rural communities can thrive.
Anthony Screen, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resilience at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Safety shouldn’t be something people have to hope for; it should be something they can rely on. This is the county council’s first countywide Community Safety Strategy, and we’ll work with partners, parish and town councils, community groups and neighbourhoods across Staffordshire, rural, urban and suburban to prevent harm, protect the most vulnerable and strengthen the places people call home.
“Safe communities are the foundation for everything else we do, and accountability matters. Residents deserve to know not just what we plan to do, but how we’ll be measured against it. That’s why this strategy includes clear responsibilities, transparent reporting, and a focus on visible improvements that people can see and feel on the ground.
“When people feel secure and supported, they can thrive, and so can Staffordshire.”
The Community Safety Strategy will be considered by the Staffordshire County Council Cabinet in February, with implementation planned to begin immediately following approval.
Image credit: iStock
