PFCC supports Essex County Council’s Levelling Up ambitions which will help make Essex safer

Essex County Council has launched a new strategy this week that sets out what levelling up means for Essex with new initiatives focused on communities and families. Speaking at the launch yesterday, deputy leader Cllr Louise McKinlay pointed out that levelling up is not just for the North and the Midlands but also for places like Essex.  She said that 123,000 people in Essex live in neighbourhoods that are amongst the 20 per cent most deprived in the country and that it was a moral, economic and sustainability imperative to widen opportunities for people to fulfil their potential. The Essex strategy is focused on supporting good jobs, a high-quality environment, educational attainment and skills, healthy and active lifestyles and strong and resilient families and communities. Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, supported the launch and took part in the panel discussion. He was asked a question around how police and fire and rescue services can play a part in the Levelling Up strategy.

He said: “Living in a deprived area means you are five times more likely to be involved in violent crime. Most criminals are from dysfunctional backgrounds and very often them turn to crime from a place of deprivation and disadvantage. By working in partnership and especially with those in the voluntary sector we can spot people early and give them help.”

A good example of this is the work that our Violence and Vulnerability Unit is doing. Recently the Unit announced £370,499 of funding to 20 grass roots groups across Essex to support work that has a positive impact on young people. You can read more about that here. Roger also referenced that in terms of employment and opportunities, both Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have inclusive recruitment campaigns that are giving opportunities for people of all backgrounds across Essex, and this will be continued in the future.

Roger added: “My vision for Essex which sits at the heart of both my Police and Crime Plan and Fire and Rescue Plan is that safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build success and wellbeing for all. “The Levelling Up initiative complements this and shows once again that partnership working will improve lives and make our communities safer for all.”

Read more about the Strategy and launch event, which was also attended by the Rt Hon Justine Greening (Chair of The Purpose Coalition which sponsors national levelling up goals), here.