Our Duty to Consider Crime and Disorder
Under Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, Kesgrave Town Council must consider the impact of all its functions and decisions on crime and disorder within the town. This duty is embedded within our budget allocations and applies to all council activities - from reviewing planning applications (for example, reducing risks of road accidents) to maintaining supervision programmes for children’s play areas.
Safeguarding and Risk Management
The Council organises community events involving children and vulnerable adults. All activities are governed by a strict Risk Management Procedure and our Safeguarding Policy and Procedure, ensuring that everyone involved is protected and supported.
Crime Prevention and Community Safety Measures
Under Section 3 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, we hold discretionary powers to fund crime prevention initiatives. Examples include the installation of CCTV systems at the Council Offices and the Cedarwood Green Walk and Multi Use Games Area, helping to deter antisocial behaviour and support community reassurance.
Street Lighting and Public Safety
We also exercise powers under Section 3 of the Parish Councils Act 1957 and Section 301 of the Highways Act 1980 to light roads and public places. Kesgrave Town Council owns 95 streetlights, all of which were refurbished and converted to LED in 2024 to improve energy efficiency and visibility. Over the past three years, we have undertaken two resident consultation exercises: 2022: A review of lighting hours on main thoroughfares, resulting in an extension from 11:00 pm to 12:00 midnight after residents expressed safety concerns. 2024: A consultation to identify areas needing additional lighting. Following this, we began discussions with Suffolk County Council regarding installation of new lights.
Working with Local Police
Kesgrave is fortunate to remain a low-crime area, but we continue to monitor local reports and trends. We work closely with Woodbridge Police to address issues of antisocial behaviour and maintain regular liaison to resolve community concerns. One such collaboration involved discussions about the Pump Track project, where police assessed concerns about potential antisocial behaviour. Their professional view was that the facility would not increase risk. Nevertheless, the Council amended the design to enclose the track and restrict access to daylight hours to further support community safety.
Encouraging Community Reporting
Residents occasionally raise concerns such as obstructive parking or minor incidents. Where appropriate, we encourage issues of this nature to be reported directly to the Police using the official Suffolk Constabulary online reporting tool, which ensures matters are logged and dealt with by the appropriate authority.
Residents can also register for Suffolk Connected, a free service provided by Suffolk Constabulary that offers updates on local incidents, crime prevention advice, policing priorities and community events.
