Did you know that East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is part of the East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership?

This means that East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has an important part to play in achieving the partnership's goals by continuing their good work, and jointly working with other partners to make East Sussex a safer place to live, work and visit.

This year the partnership has refreshed the top issues they are going to tackle over the next twelve months in order to help combat crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour, substance misuse and fear of crime.

The priorities selected by the East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership for 2009 - 2010 are:

• Reducing anti-social behaviour and improving perceptions
• Preventing youth crime
• Preventing and reducing violent crime
• Tackling emerging crime issues arising from the economic downturn
• Reducing adult re-offending
• Improving road safety
• Reducing hate crime and promoting reporting of hate crime incidents
• Reducing the harm caused by drugs
• Reducing the harm caused by alcohol misuse
• Improving communication, consultation and community engagement

This list forms part of the annual Community Safety Agreement which sets out how partners in East Sussex come together to address the above.

In line with this partnership, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service continues to tackle issues surrounding road safety, alcohol misuse, youth crime and anti-social behaviour through initiatives such as the LIFE Course, Safe Drive Stay Alive, BLAZE and various safety campaigns such as Who Cares, home safety visits and drink drive campaigns.

The important bit comes when all partners join forces to ensure that the partnership reduces, prevents, improves and tackles these key issues to make East Sussex a safer county.

For more information about the Community Safety Agreement please contact Justine Armstrong on 01323 466526 or Justine.armstrong@eastsussex.gov.uk

To access the Community Safety Agreement please go to www.safeineastsussex.org.uk and follow Publications > Strategic Documents.