Work is underway to install state-of-the-art surveillance cameras in a Loughborough park as part of a major project to improve the safety of women and girls.
Site surveys of the town’s Queen’s Park have been completed by Charnwood Borough Council officers and a tender process has been initiated to appoint a contractor to deliver two new CCTV cameras within the grounds.
This week, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews joined Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, Charnwood Borough Council’s lead member for Community Support and Equalities, on a visit to the park, which is benefitting from funding as part of the Safer Streets 3 project.
Installation work is set to begin mid-February and is due to be completed by the end of March.
Working in conjunction with local authority partners and Leicestershire Police, Mr Matthews secured £550k from the third round of the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund to make women and girls safer across the county’s parks and open spaces.
In total, the funding will be invested in 31 new CCTV cameras and improved street lighting in parks across the LLR area to deter crime, reduce the risk of women and girls being assaulted and increase the chance of offenders being caught by police.
It will also fund improvement works to increase visibility and reduce seclusion in parks through the cutting back of undergrowth and foliage.
Cllr Harper-Davies said: “I am really pleased we can further increase our network of CCTV cameras which help provide protection and security for residents across the borough. I look forward to seeing the cameras installed in Queen’s Park.
“Our CCTV team work very closely with police to help make sure people feel safe in our borough.”
Mr Matthews said: “I am delighted the people of Loughborough are benefiting from this funding with the installation of new CCTV cameras to boost their safety.
“Our colleagues at Charnwood Borough Council have hit the ground running to make sure these safety improvements are rolled out as quickly as possible to cut crime and make park users feel safer.
“We know from our pre-bid surveys that CCTV helps women feel less vulnerable and at risk. We have listened carefully to their experiences and the changes being brought will not only reduce the opportunity of crime but will help to boost the confidence of all those who enjoy this park in the near future.”
The improvements cover 18 parks across the LLR area and comprise; Victoria Park, Braunstone Park, Abbey Park, Western Park, Bede Park, Aylestone Meadows, Rally Park, Knighton Park in Leicester, Bradgate Park and Queens Park in Charnwood, Warwick Park Kibworth Harcourt and Welland Park in Harborough, Clarendon Park in Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton Country Park in Melton, Brock Hill Country Park and Blaby Road Park in Oadby and Wigston, Cutts Close Park and Tod’s Piece Park in Rutland.
The grant will also fund the launch of a Behaviour Change Campaign across the force area to tackle underlying attitudes and inequalities that help to foster gender-based violence.
Nationally, police and crime commissioners and local authorities received a total of £23.5million of Safer Streets funding on top of the £18.4m already awarded this year in the second round of the fund.
Recipients of funding submitted bids for innovative plans to increase the safety of public spaces, including projects which emphasise changing attitudes and behaviours in local communities.
A video of the Commissioner’s discussion with Cllr Harper-Davies can be found here: https://youtu.be/MMiPoZykdc0
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Posted on Friday 26th November 2021