The Safer Streets Fund was launched in January 2020, and has to date supported 270 projects aiming to cut neighbourhood crime such as theft, burglary, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities in England and Wales, the British Transport Police and eligible civil society organizations have received £120 million in total across 4 rounds of the fund.
An independent evaluation of the first round of the Safer Streets Fund has found that people in communities that have had extra CCTV and streetlighting rolled out are less likely to worry about being mugged or robbed. The findings also show that the fund is helping to build confidence in the police, with residents in these areas more likely to think their local police are doing a good or excellent job.
Successful projects include in Humberside where improved communal entrances in flats are helping to prevent drug dealing, and new storage units are stopping bike and motorbike theft. In Northampton, funding has supported improvements to the security of thousands of homes that were vulnerable to burglary, with alleyway gates installed to prevent an easy escape for offenders.
Other projects across the country have set up Neighbourhood Watch groups, increased CCTV, and introduced wardens to undertake community engagement and sharing crime prevention advice with the public.
Minister of State for Crime & Policing, Chris Philp, said: "Our local communities are the beating hearts of the UK, and I want our streets to be safe for everyone to go about their daily lives without fear inflicted on them by criminals. Increasing public safety in our communities, and restoring people’s confidence in the police and pride in where they live, is an absolute priority. This funding gives local people the power to make real changes in their area, as well as driving investment in businesses and jobs."
The evaluation shows the positive impact of investing in initiatives to improve local environments, and how this makes people feel safer and more engaged in their communities. Round One Project Lead said: "People have been thrilled to see [the improvements]; it’s made a huge difference. In consultation, people feel unsafe when they’re walking through an area covered in litter and graffiti, and what this has done has helped actually lift the area."
Humberside Police said: "What we’re finding is we’re now getting more information about what’s happening in the community… previously we found people weren’t that forthcoming with information. So we are gaining trust."
Inspector Richard Mirfin, Humberside Police said: "The Safer Streets funding has allowed us to work alongside partners and the local community – who all had a real desire to implement positive change across the Westcliff area. It has enabled us to come together to design out crime and increase a sense of community ownership – making the local area safer and stronger."
As part of this initiative, approved security features were added to properties, along with the implementation of innovative design solutions leading to a reduction in anti-social behavior and a decrease in opportunities for crime to occur. A network of champions from within the local community supported the delivery of wider initiatives increasing the sense of community and pride in the local area.
Overall, the Safer Streets Fund has been successful in its mission to reduce neighborhood crime and improve public safety by investing in initiatives that improve local environments and build trust in the police. With £120 million spent to date, the fund has supported 270 projects and continues to make a positive impact on communities across England and Wales.
Photo by Ethan Wilkinson on Unsplash
