RESPECT - that is the main aim of a new campaign launched in Waveney.The Waveney Community Safety Partnership, whose remit is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the district and improve community safety, has this week sent out an important message to locals.

RESPECT - that is the main aim of a new campaign launched in Waveney.

The Waveney Community Safety Partnership, whose remit is to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the district and

improve community safety, has this week sent out an important message to locals.

'The Community Safety Partnership (CSP) is trying to get a simple message across, Give Respect, Get Respect,' said a spokesman for the CSP.

'Respect each other and where you live and in turn you will be given respect.'

The call to people in Waveney comes after new figures revealed that a quarter of all the crimes reported to the police locally concern criminal damage.

'One of the big issues that affect us all in Waveney is the amount of damage that is caused,' said the spokesman.

So how does this affect local people?

'Can you imagine the feeling if you were to leave your home in the morning to find that your car had been scratched all along the bodywork? This really hurts,' said the spokesman.

'Money is tight for us all at the moment. Do you claim on your insurance and lose your no claims bonus, or pay for the repair out of your own pocket? Either way it's not your fault. Had it been an accident while out driving, it would have not been so bad, but this is just senseless damage; it's not as if the person who caused the damage gained anything from it.'

The Journal can today reveal that as a 'key area of concern' the criminal damage problem equates to 27pc of overall crime in the district.

With additional enforcement work now being looked at, future initiatives to raise awareness of criminal damage include poster campaigns in schools and the Crucial Crew scenarios held annually for youngsters in Waveney.

'What about our more vulnerable elderly residents?' the spokesman said. 'Can you imagine the extra stress felt by someone who finds their garden wall has been pulled over? Once again it will cost money to repair and how do you find it when you are struggling to find the money to heat your home?

'We can often see the results of damage - such as boarded-up shop windows, broken glass at bus shelters and graffiti - so what does it say about an area? How do you feel when you see this type of damage?'

So, in an effort to reduce the levels of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage across Waveney, the partnership is calling for respect from residents locally to address this problem.