A SAFETY group has pledged to tackle re-offending and reduce the risk and impact of hidden harm.

Braintree Community Safety Partnership is a collaboration between the police authorities, fire service, probation service, health authorities, the voluntary sector, local residents and businesses.

The group works to reduce crime and disorder by highlighting the problems in their area each year and prioritising which ones to tackle.

The 2016/17 priorities for the CSP are to reduce the risk and impact of hidden harm, reduce re-offending and to develop effective partnerships to meet emerging local threats and issues.

Each year the CSP complete a strategic assessment, which includes data analysis of levels and patterns of crime and disorder.

Councillor Wendy Schmitt said: “In the last 12 months alone we’ve supported a male domestic abuse awareness campaign, produced an information booklet for parents and carers around child sexual exploitation which was sent out to 4,600 parents.

"We have match-funded a young persons’ independent sexual violence adviser to work with children and young people in the district who have been abused or exploited and we’ve delivered education and prevention workshops to more than 1,000 young people.”

Safeguarding awareness sessions have been delivered to 69 taxi drivers and taxi safe booklets have been produced to help drivers access information they need to keep passengers safe.

In December the group also delivered a hidden harm conference to 135 professionals, which dealt with difficult issues such as gangs and abuse.

In addition, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office confirmed funding of £20,158 for the CSP and letters have been sent to eight licensed premises across Braintree offering bodyworn video cameras for their door staff.