Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach has been awarded more than £1.5m to detect and prevent burglary, theft and robbery in three hotspots across the county, it has been revealed.
The PCC has secured the funding from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund, which earmarks £25m for increased detection and prevention measures across England and Wales to target acquisitive crime.
Leicestershire has been awarded £549,998 for an area in Westcotes that includes Narborough Road and neighbouring streets; £549,999 for the Warwick Way and Dishley estates in Loughborough; and £418,309 for Braunstone Frith. The maximum available for each area is £550k.
The funding will now be invested in proactive crime prevention and detection tools including CCTV, enhanced street lighting, graffiti removal and free home security improvements for residents in qualifying areas.
It will also fund the appointment of community safety coordinators across all three communities who will work with community groups and residents to deliver crime prevention advice and support.
Commenting on the announcement, Willy Bach said: “This is fantastic news for these three areas which our profiling suggested needed additional help. Between them, they have been awarded more than £1.5m of funding for improvements – close to the maximum available from this fund – which will make a real difference to the quality of life in these communities.
“The Home Office was impressed with the evidence we presented to highlight the complex problems in these areas and our approach to resolving them. I cannot thank my team and our local partners enough for their extensive efforts in collating Police data and analysing trends to ensure our bids were successful.
“This funding is a huge a boost to our partnership work, giving us the opportunity of taking assertive measures to deter crime in these areas and improve our ability to detect it. The learning from this work will be given to the Home Office to help identify best practice.
“We are looking forward to working with these communities and our partners to improve public safety, achieve long-term reductions in acquisitive crime and importantly reduce fear among local people.
“At a really tough time like this, it is superb news for our communities.”
Cllr Piara Singh Clair, Chair of the Safer Leicester Partnership and Deputy City Mayor said: “We are delighted to be awarded this grant from the Home Office and I am hopeful that the grant will help us to create safer streets in these parts of the city,”.
Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, lead member for communities at Charnwood Borough Council, added: “This is good news for residents in the Warwick Way and Dishley areas of Loughborough. We look forward to this project developing so it can help tackle burglaries and thefts in those areas.
“Charnwood is a safe place but we cannot be complacent and when there are problems, the Council will work with partners to tackle them. We are delighted to be working with the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner and Leicestershire Police.”
Ends
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Westcotes bid outline
The overall approach for the area is to take a strong community approach to ensure that the community are fully on board. On the key trunk roads of the area we will have ANPR/CCTV fixed cameras on existing lampposts so as to be able to understand who is going in and out of the area (intelligence and dis-incentive), re-deployable CCTV (pan, tilt, zoom) within the estate at key locations to further deter/gather intelligence – moved every 8 weeks to give coverage. Target hardening will be made available to all households via 24/7 Locks who will undertake a property/vulnerability assessment and fit appropriate items. We will build community assets through Neighbourhood Watch, the community safety officer and DMU student volunteers who will also distribute property marking kits and receive training. On a more targeted basis we will be providing gating (on a per property basis) to those properties that are particularly vulnerable through such access routes and removing graffiti to improve the environment.
Warwick Way/Dishley Estates bid outline
The overall approach for the area is to take a strong community approach to ensure that the community are fully on board. On key trunk roads within the area we will have ANPRCCTV fixed cameras on existing lampposts so as to be able to understand who is going in and out of the area (intelligence and dis-incentive), CCTV (pan, tilt, zoom) within the estate at key locations to further deter/gather intelligence. Target hardening will be made available to all households via 24/7 Locks who will undertake a property/vulnerability assessment and fit appropriate items. We will build community assets through Charnwood Watch and the Warwick Way Community group. On a more targeted basis Charnwood Borough Council will be installing 16 enhanced communal front access doors at high risk locations.
Braunstone Frith bid outline
The overall approach for the area is to take a strong community approach to ensure that the community are fully on board. At the top and bottom of the part of the ring-road abutting the bid area ANPR/CCTV fixed cameras will be fitted on existing lampposts so as to be able to understand who is going in and out of the area (intelligence and dis-incentive), re-deployable CCTV (pan, tilt, zoom) within the estate at key locations to further deter/gather intelligence – moved every 8 weeks to give coverage. Target hardening will be made available to all households via 24/7 Locks who will undertake a property/vulnerability assessment and fit appropriate items. We will build community assets through Neighbourhood Watch, the community safety officer and DMU student volunteers who will also distribute property marking kits. On a more targeted basis we are also considering whether there are specific things that can be done in a couple of the key hotspots. In particular we will be providing gating (on a per property basis) to those properties that are particularly vulnerable and removing graffiti to improve the environment.
Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair - 07702 541401
Posted on Tuesday 28th July 2020