Copper communities - Britons pledge to police crime in their neighbourhood - Press Release

Local communities are cracking down on crime and yob culture with over one fifth of neighbourhoods making a stand, according to new research from community insurer Combined Insurance.

Community policing is one of Gordon Brown’s key themes for the local election campaign and this is clearly an issue that people feel strongly about.  This year over 1 in 5 (22%) Britons will lend their support to local initiatives which tackle crime and yob culture in their area.

Overall, 75 per cent of people say they plan to get involved with local community projects this year and crime is the number one priority.  Meanwhile, a further 13 per cent of communities have taken it upon themselves to introduce traffic calming measures during 2008,Combined’s research reveals.

However, community involvement is not limited to tackling crime.  A fun-loving 14 per cent of people said they are organising their community summer fête and 13 per cent claim they are helping to improve sports and leisure facilities in their local area.

Supporting local shops and businesses is key to 12 per cent of people, in particular post offices which are currently subject to the closure programme announced by Royal Mail*.

Across the UK, people in East Anglia are the most community-spirited with 84 per cent of people claiming to take an active role in community projects.  In contrast, over half of people in the North East (53%) admit to not getting involved with the community and 61% of Londoners do not get involved in local initiatives.

Crime and yobbish behaviour is of most concern to communities in the South, where 27 per cent of communities are tackling the issue.  Whereas those in the Capital are, perhaps surprisingly, least likely to take action to protect themselves and their property (19%).

Encouragingly, 62 per cent of 18 – 24 year olds say they take an active role in the community, which bodes well for the country’s future.  The over 55s are the most active group with 85 per cent contributing to their community.

Nigel Brittle, Director at Combined Insurance commented: “There is a lot of talk currently about communities breaking down and a lack of social cohesion, so it is very encouraging to see from Combined Insurance’s research that involvement in the community is alive and well.

“It is great that people are emphasising the personal touch and are working to make their local areas better places to live.  As a company that has always focused on community presence and face to face business, Combined Insurance supports efforts being made to protect local communities. If the unexpected happens and people need financial protection we provide a personal service to help make a bad day better.”

*At the end of last year, Royal Mail announced the planned closure of 2500 post offices.  www.postoffice.co.uk

For more information or to arrange interviews please contact:
Lindsay Wienand / Guy Bellamy                 
FD Consumer Dynamics
020 7269 7265 / 7177
Lindsay.Wienand@fd.com

Notes to Editors:
Research undertaken by YouGov amongst a GB representative sample of 1,929 people 18 – 21 January 2008.

 Since 1919, Combined Insurance (www.combinedinsurance.co.uk) has specialised in bringing affordable, quality insurance products to individuals and families - and currently provides supplemental disability, accident, health and life cover to over 3.5 million policyholders. Combined Insurance has never forgotten its roots and today operates face-to-face in local communities – just as it has done for the last 90 years.

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