£1 million is to be invested in tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Cannock, Longton and Tunstall as part of the latest round of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund, following a successful bid by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office (SCO).
This funding is in addition to almost £3 million already secured by the SCO through Safer Streets in rounds one, two, three and four, and forms part of Staffordshire’s preventative approach to reducing ASB more broadly.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “Tackling the anti-social behaviour that can harm our communities is a key priority in my Police & Crime Plan, as where these problems are repeated, residents can feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.
“This latest round of funding will help to boost the significant work already underway across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, combining practical measures like CCTV and improved lighting with education to change people’s behaviours – not only making our communities safer, but ensuring they feel safer too.”
Half of the funding will be allocated to Cannock, with the other £500,000 used in Longton and Tunstall. It will provide a range of partnership interventions designed to help reduce ASB and improve people’s safety and confidence, including:
- Additional street lighting, gating, fences and CCTV, and environmental measures such as clearing rubbish and cutting back overgrown greenery on walking routes
- Street outreach workers delivering targeted engagement within local communities, including making referrals to appropriate networks and support agencies
- Educational programmes on ASB within schools’ Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education curriculum
- A street pastor or marshall scheme around the night-time economy and vulnerable locations, able to help identify, support and signpost vulnerable people to safe places and support
Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase, said: “I very much welcome the funding that Ben Adams has secured from the government to continue to tackle anti-social behaviour in our area. I want residents to feel safe in our communities, however sadly ASB can have a real negative impact on how safe residents feel. I am therefore pleased that the Police Commissioner had made tackling ASB a priority and that further funding has been secured.”
Councillor Jo Elson, Portfolio Leader for Community Wellbeing at Cannock Chase Council said: “We are over the moon to receive £500,000 as part of the Safer Streets 5 Fund to tackle ASB in Cannock South and Cannock West wards. The funding will play a key role in preventing and reducing crime, which has been identified in these areas. CCTV, improved lighting, and environmental improvements will make it more difficult to commit a crime, ensuring our streets and communities feel safer.”
Chief Superintendent Elliott Sharrard-Williams said: “We recognise the impact anti-social behaviour can have on victims, which is why we are committed to working with partners to tackle it every day.
“In August, we updated our new neighbourhood strategy, which placed visible, accessible and responsive policing at the heart of our ambitions. This is key to modern policing: we need all our communities to have trust and confidence in what we do. When this is the case, communities engage more, support us more, and together help us tackle crime.
“We want to encourage victims of anti-social behaviour to reach out for support. They can speak to their local officer, report any issues through the Staffordshire Police website, call 101, or contact Crimestoppers.”
Jonathan Gullis, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove & Talke, said: “I am delighted the Government has listened, and supported Ben and I in delivering this investment to make sure the streets of Tunstall are safe for everyone. After campaigning for over a year on this, and successfully securing the support of over 700 local residents, today’s announcement will give reassurance to residents that their safety comes first, as well as helping Staffordshire Police lock up criminals who plague communities.”
Jack Brereton, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, said: “This much-needed investment will significantly improve safety in Longton town centre for residents and businesses, instilling confidence in people to shop locally and visit our fantastic small independent retailers.
“I strongly support the addition of new CCTV cameras and alleyway gates in key locations. Together, they will not only act as a strong deterrent to the mindless vandals and criminals who target our shops and businesses, but also help to build better evidence for the Police to ensure criminals who target our high street face the full force of the law.”
Councillor David Williams, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for communities, education and safety, said: “We have worked closely with the Commissioner’s Office to make the case for support through the Safer Streets 5 Fund for our towns of Tunstall and Longton. The announcement of this funding is welcome news as it will help to make these towns feel safer for both our residents and visitors.
“Here in the city, we have recently concluded our consultation with residents, businesses and organisations to inform our new Community Safety Strategy. Tackling anti-social behaviour was high on the list of priorities for everyone we spoke with so we are pleased that we can now bring forward a range of measures which will make things better for residents and businesses in Tunstall and Longton.”
For more information about what the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office is doing to tackle ASB across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, visit: Anti-Social Behaviour – Staffordshire Commissioner (staffordshire-pfcc.gov.uk)
