What is Section 17?
Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires local and police authorities, plus other agencies, to consider crime and disorder reduction and community safety when undertaking all of their duties and responsibilities.
Section 17 states:
"Without prejudice to any other obligation imposed on it, it shall be the duty of each authority to which this section applies to exercise its various functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all that it reasonably can to prevent, crime and disorder in its area".
What is the impact of Section 17?
Community safety issues impact on all areas of local government services, but will be particularly relevant to:
- Education
- Social services
- Planning
- Roads and highways
- Housing
- Refuse
- Leisure
- Transport
- Environmental health
- Trading standards
- Licensing/public entertainment
- Fire and rescue services
The responsibilities placed on all local government departments by Section 17 provides the impetus for them to consider how their service area can contribute to reducing crime and disorder, as well as their impact on social and community factors that affect crime levels.
For more information about mainstreaming Section 17, visit the Home Office's crime reduction website at www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk Opens in a new window