Resident safety
Community Safety
The Dartford Community Safety Strategy for 2022-2025 provides the direction that the Dartford Community Safety Partnership (DCSP) intends to take to reduce crime and disorder over the three year plan period. The DCSP was set up in 2020 after the dissolution of the long established Dartford and Gravesham Community Safety Partnership. Although the DCSP has continued to maintain its relationship with Gravesham in areas such as supporting victims of domestic abuse and tackling the ‘cross border’ criminals that operate within both our respective Town Centres.
The role of the DCSP is to bring key local agencies together to deliver multi-agency solutions to local problems by pooling resources and experience. It aims to prevent crime and disorder, the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances and to reduce re-offending in the local area.
The DCSP is made up of a partnership of key agencies including:
- Kent Police
- Dartford Borough Council
- Kent County Council
- Kent Fire and Rescue Service
- NHS Kent and Medway
Anti-Social Behaviour
The Housing Service works closely with the Council’s Community Safety Unit (CSU), Environmental Health Service (EHS) and the Environmental Enforcement Team in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour on estates. The Anti-Social Behaviour and Hate Incident Policy sets out the action we will take to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB). We also have a dedicated ASB team in Housing who focus on resolving ASB issues within our estates.
The Council’s response to reports of ASB will be based upon what is considered proportionate and appropriate in all the circumstances. The Police will be notified of all cases involving violence and criminality and we will assist them where necessary. The CSU also hold Daily Briefings with multi-agency partners to raise issues of concern of ASB on a daily case-by-case basis.
The CSU lead on facilitating the Dartford Vulnerability and Contextual Safeguarding Panel which assists to address forms of ASB, whilst supporting referring agencies by taking a multi-agency response to support those affected by ASB who are vulnerable.
Any complex cases will be referred by our Tenancy Services team to the Complex Case Panel, a joint panel between the Tenancy Services and Housing Solutions teams that meets monthly to put in place plans for tenants where ASB may be a factor in the case and there is a risk of homelessness due to possession proceedings.