Ever larger numbers of Southampton s pupils either find good quality employment or go on to further education. Mentoring initiatives with children identified as being at risk have resulted in their positive development. This, coupled with family preservation, youth work and health programmes have resulted in fewer children in care, less unwanted teenage pregnancies, less mental health problems and less drug and alcohol dependency. This in turn has led to less crime and anti-social behaviour being attributed to children and young people. A journalist writes on safety in Southampton.
Residents think the city is a very safe place in which to live.
Official Crime rates are very low and people now see crime as a rarity. Citizen surveys consistently show that safety no longer needs to be a high priority for action. Public transport has continued to improve, and now most people prefer to use it rather than the car. This, coupled with more walking, cycling and traffic calming has led to fewer and fewer road accidents. Accidents in the home and in public places have been greatly reduced due to better house building or product design, combined with better standards, more effective maintenance and responsible citizen education programmes.