Safer Streets Fund
What is the safer streets fund?
At the beginning of 2020, the Home Office launched the Safer Streets Scheme, with funding available for Police and Crime Commissioners to bid against. This grant scheme supported specific local areas disproportionately affected by acquisitive crime, by implementing proven physical and surveillance security measures. Acquisitive crime such as burglary, vehicle crime and robbery, makes up almost 60% of all crime in the UK. Academics believe that proven security measures can drastically help reduce crime, resulting in far few victims and less demand on policing
The funding is intended to go towards measures that are proven to cut crime, including changes to the street scene such as locked alley gates and better lighting, and the installation of CCTV
Round 1 – Safer streets 2020/2021
The OPFCC made bids to fund three projects in Northamptonshire, all three were successful and the Home Office awarded £1.475m to fund crime fighting projects in Wellingborough, Kettering and Northampton.
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For more information about the work we have done as a result of this funding, please click here
Round 2 – Safer Streets 2021/2022
Northants OPFCC have been awarded £432,000 for the Hemmingwell area, Wellingborough (2021-2022) to help tackle neighbourhood and acquisitive crime. This includes crime types such as Burglary, Vehicle Crime and Robbery. We will be investing in evidence-based situational crime prevention interventions such as home security improvements to make residents feel safer and reduce the likelihood of being subjected to crime.
The OPFCC will be working partnership with North Northants Council, and local partnership private sector housing authorities to help make the area safer than ever before.
More updates on progress to follow soon
Round 3 – to introduce target hardening activities relating to public spaces, with an emphasis on violence against women and girls.
In early 2021, the Home Office decided to release a further funding as part of Safer Streets 3. This fund is aimed at reducing violence against women and girls.
The Commissioners office along with partner agencies, including the local authorities and local third sector organisations, aim to submit bids to support the reduction of violent crimes against women and girls in Northamptonshire. We are currently in the consultation stage of this process, and aim to submit multiple applications to receive funding to make Northamptonshire safer and protect people from crime.
Further details in relation to Round 3 of the Safer Streets Fund are expected in mid May 2021
For details about the safer streets fund, please visit the Home Office website.
Safer Streets Fund application process – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)