Partnership comes together to support community safety

Article date: October 22 2025

Councillor Trisha Long, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, presented the St Helens Safer St Helens Executive Annual Report 2024/25 to Cabinet on Wednesday, 22nd October to highlight the work, through the executive's Community Safety Partnership, to support residents, groups and businesses over the year.

Councillor Long said: "We know how important feeling safe is to our residents and recognise that the best way for us to address residents' issues is for us to work collectively as a partnership, which I'm very pleased to chair through my cabinet role."

"The report shows that overall crime in the borough fell by 11 per cent compared to the previous year, the highest drop across the Merseyside Police footprint. This included 10.2 per cent reduction in violent and sexual crimes, a 22 per cent fall in burglaries and a 22 per cent fall in public order offences.

"It also includes the launch of the Domestic Abuse Partnership Strategy - a three year plan to further strengthen partnership working to tackle domestic abuse which has a devastating impact on victims. 

"Throughout the report there are a variety of case studies that show the impact the partnership's work is having, including funding community groups through projects like Safe Saints that saw 18 community groups benefit from £50,000 worth of funding to support positive activities across the borough.

"I am very grateful to all those who work so hard to keep our communities as safe as possible. The report shows that together we are stronger and are having an impact on making communities across our borough safer."

Emily Spurrell, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I'm proud to continue supporting the Safer St Helens Community Safety Partnership, whose work this year has delivered real impact across the Borough.

The 6.7% reduction in serious violence and a 38 per cent drop in knife crime over three years are strong indicators of progress and the impact of our collective efforts. I want to thank every partner and community member for their commitment to building a safer, stronger St Helens."

Supt Chris Ruane, Merseyside Police, added: "We are proud to have achieved reductions in many crime types, improved the prosecution rates against offenders and see additional successes around the levels of anti-social behaviour in the borough. We will continue to put our all into this partnership in St Helens to serve those who live, work and visit our great borough."

Meanwhile the work across the night time economy through initiatives like the Night Time Economy Forum, had strong support from the businesses who worked alongside the partnership.

Steve Lawler, Chair of Pub Watch, said: "The initiatives agreed at the Night Time Economy Forum and rolled out to help those businesses in this sector have been brilliant. Working in partnership with other business, council officers, emergency services, other organisations and volunteers has meant that we can problem solve together and the funding the forum has received from the Community Safety Partnership has meant that we can focus on the things that are important in building a stronger, safer and vibrant night time economy.

"The training that has been introduced into the sector has brought a professionalism across the local business community to ensure that all the premises are working to the same standards and that we have well trained managers and staff to build a resilient night time economy."

Another example in the report of partnership working included Operation Banger, with St Helens Borough Council and Merseyside Fire and Rescue teams removing 8.3 tonnes of combustible waste ahead of the busy period, alongside proactive policing and outreach work in hotspot areas to tackle anti-social behaviour around the busy Halloween and Bonfire Night period.

John O'Boyle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said: Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service recognise the importance of the partnership working via the CSP and remain focused on delivering in a range of preventative services in the borough. Our specialist team ensure that services work together to prepare and protect our communities."

To read the full report visit: Safer St Helens Executive Annual Report