SHP-TV

Click here to view SHP TV

SHP-TV is the Safer Hastings Partnership’s award-winning community TV network, which ran from October 2004 until May 2010.

The network broadcast short clips about local initiatives (all filmed in Hastings & St Leonards), crime prevention advice, crime reduction news, education and health projects, and national news, sport and weather. The system also had the ability to show missing person and serious crime appeals within minutes.

The aim of SHP-TV was to enable the Partnership to communicate directly with local residents and visitors, informing them of what we do to reduce crime and improve the quality of their lives.

The 42” plasma screens were originally located at 11 venues across town: the Town Hall Information Centre; Priory Meadow; McDonald's; Hastings College; University Centre Hastings; Station Plaza; Warrior Square Station; Tesco; the Conquest Hospital’s café; Carisbrooke Surgery at Marlborough House; and Summerfields Leisure Centre. The screens are still located at the Town Hall Info Centre, Priory Meadow, McDonald's, Station Plaze, Warrior Square Station and Carisbrooke Surgery.

Working in partnership with CCN (Community Communication Network Ltd), the Safer Hastings Partnership launched SHP-TV in October 2004, becoming the flagship for the south. Similar systems working effectively in the north of the UK include Easington, which was launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trafford, which was launched by Sir Bobby Charlton.

Early evaluation of SHP-TV showed a 20% shift in local residents who now realise that crime is in fact DOWN in our town. Results also showed an increased awareness among the public of each initiative featured on the system.

The Hastings network won the Government Office for the South East’s Best New Media Activity Award in October 2005. SHP-TV was also awarded second place in the national Good Communication Awards in June 2006.

In April 2005, SHP-TV was showcased at the House of Lords as part of a CCN exhibition, where BBC Crimewatch’s Nick Ross praised the outstanding results of the Partnership in Hastings. We then showcased the network and our other initiatives at the House of Commons in December 2006.

At that time, the Home Office considered community TV networks to be best practice for communicating with local residents.