Safer Streets

Commissioner’s Office secures extra £58,000 funding for Fenton and Northwood security measures

Fenton and Northwood residents will benefit from a further £58,000 investment in security measures as part of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund, following another successful bid by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office.

The latest tranche of funding will be used to provide additional street and alley lighting in specific areas of Fenton and Northwood, with Fenton receiving £37,000 and Northwood £21,000.

The funding is part of a national initiative to improve security in areas particularly affected by crimes such as burglary, vehicle theft and robbery.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis said: ‘These additional security measures will provide a visible deterrent to criminals, and will also help to improve the confidence of residents using the alleys after dark.

‘I am delighted the first stage of the project has gone so well so had no hesitation when asked to bid for a second time. This is a great opportunity to invest even more in driving down crime and keeping the community safer.

‘Crimes such as burglary, robbery and theft cause significant harm to individuals and their communities. I’m delighted my office has been successful in securing this additional funding, which will further improve both the peace of mind and quality of life for local people in areas of Fenton and Northwood.’

The extra funding follows an announcement last October that both areas would receive a total of more than £1m from the Safer Streets fund, out of a total national pot of £25m. The money was secured by the commissioner’s office, and the project is supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police.

Council leader Abi Brown said: ‘This extra funding is tremendous news and shows further confidence in the work being delivered to support communities and give reassurance to residents. A comprehensive programme of very visible works is underway in both communities, in consultation with residents so that safety and security measures are tailored to meet their needs. Our community safety, housing and environmental teams are all working in partnership with the Commissioner’s office and wider partners to deliver these significant works for city communities.’

MP for Fenton, Jack Brereton, said: ‘Tackling crime in the Fenton area is a top priority for me and improved lighting will help give residents peace of mind during these early dark nights. These improvements, backed up by our investment in more police officers, will make our communities safer, so we have brighter, cleaner, safer streets.’

MP for Stoke Central, Jo Gideon, said: ‘This additional funding is most welcome and significant. The Safer Streets Fund is specifically targeted toward the prevention of localised community offences, using proven and effective security methods. Criminals should not be able to inflict fear and misery on our communities and I look forward to seeing the benefits in Northwood.’

In October, specific areas in Fenton and Northwood benefited from funding of £1 million for measures such as safer doors and windows, installation of security gates, improved lighting, intruder alarms and home CCTV systems.

All households meeting the criteria have received a leaflet from the contractors, 24-7 Locks, inviting them to take advantage of a home security survey. Work is already well underway, with contractors completing 335 houses in Northwood and 460 in Fenton out of a total of 760 for each area.

24-7 Locks are fully compliant with COVID guidelines and carry identification. Please only call the number if you have received a leaflet directly at your home, via post or a 24-7 representative has made contact while on location.

CCTV cameras will also be installed to provide a visible deterrent in hotspot locations together with individual CCTV systems for certain properties. These cameras will be able to be redeployed to other streets within the two communities when needed.

Find out more: https://staffordshire-pfcc.gov.uk/initiatives/safer-streets-fund/

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