TWO years ago, a Banbury housing estate suffered from the fastest-rising crime figures in north Oxfordshire, writes Madeleine Pennell.

A ten-year-old boy shot a teenager with an air rifle there, heroin addicts raided countless houses and gangs of youths gathered on street corners, intimidating young mothers.

People would not walk about on Bretch Hill at night because of the perception that it was a dangerous area.

But in 1997, the estate became the focus of a pioneering project by Banbury police. A team of seven officers was assigned to the area to concentrate on cracking crime and anti-social behaviour.

Their formula of building strong links with the community, winning their trust and working with them to build information on offenders has worked. Burglaries have fallen by 60 per cent - from 155 in 1997/1998 to 60 in 1998/1999. Overall, crime has been slashed by 30 per cent in the same period. Bretch Hill now has a crime rate no worse than most other areas of north Oxfordshire, and people there feel less intimidated.

Now the team has won the Thames Valley Police Shrievalty Merit Award for its achievement. Sgt Dick Auger, acting Sgt Steve Robinson, constables Tony Maule, Keith McEwan, Graham Waddington, Emma Brookes and Claire Hurley were presented with the award by Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Charles Pollard at the force's Kidlington headquarters today.

The officers built their links with the community by spending time walking the estate and talking to residents. They gave out the number of a mobile phone carried at all times by a member of the team along with the direct line to their office. People were encouraged to call them directly if they had problems. They also work closely with Cherwell District Council's housing and social services departments and housing associations. They share information on crime and issues of anti-social behaviour.

Officers from the team are members of every committee connected to the area, ranging from tenants' associations to acting as governors at local schools.

Pc Waddington has an office at Drayton Comprehensive School in Stratfield Road. He takes lessons and deals with crime, behavioural problems and truancy at the school. He works with pupils who are deemed to have criminal tendencies. He tries to raise their expectations and channel their energies into more constructive activities.

Much anti-social behaviour has been eradicated simply by talking to the youths concerned.

Wpc Hurley says: "We always tell kids that we will never move them on unless there has been a complaint.We explain to them the effect of their behaviour and make them realise it is intimidating. "If we appeal to their better nature and give them the reasons why, they don't simply feel they are being pushed from pillar to post, and they understand."

She adds: "Getting to know the youngsters by name is more effective than driving past them in a car.

"When I first started working here nobody was happy walking around the estate. But now when I speak to people such as district nurses who visit the residents, they comment on how much better the atmosphere is."

Kali Sandhu, of J and B Stores, says she has noticed how much the anti-social behaviour has diminished since she arrived two years ago.

She says: "We had some problems, but that was probably because we were new. It was just the odd alcoholic causing a bit of disturbance. "But if we have problems now we know we can call the police and they come quickly."

Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Shirley Mawle says: "I have noticed a change. The fears residents had were caused by not talking to each other. Information is now being shared with people, but there is quite a long way to go. As time progressed and the beat team got to know more people by talking to them, they have become associated with the estate.

"Most people know their Christian names. They have genuinely built a rapport with all generations." "There was a problem with young people playing football outside my home and causing a nuisance. They were encouraged to play elsewhere and they have not caused a problem since.

"It is so quiet now, it is spooky."

-The Bretch Hill team may be contacted on 01295 754534 or 07970145771.

Story date: Friday 25 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.