£1.5 million bid to make streets safer across North Wales is successful

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin today welcomed the exciting news that a £1.5 million bid for funding from the Home Office to make streets safer across North Wales has been successful.

Funding from the fourth round of the Safer Streets initiative will go towards supporting projects in Holyhead, Wrexham and Deeside.

The Safer Streets Fund is a £75 million Home Office programme that encourages Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities to bid for investment for initiatives to prevent neighbourhood crime. The aim of the project is to support areas experiencing crime across England and Wales, such as domestic burglary, robbery, theft, vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), and violence against women and girls (VAWG) in public spaces, including in the night-time economy.

The Police and Crime Commissioner’s team worked closely with North Wales Police, local authorities, schools, justice services and third sector partners to ensure the bid had as much support as possible across the areas receiving funding.

The Holyhead Town project on Anglesey will see £692,149 go towards projects such as improving street lighting in around the town centre and the installation of new and upgraded lighting. It will also see the installation of 21 CCTV cameras; the provision of target hardening and crime prevention packs for 250 properties to help prevent neighbourhood crime; and the provision of high visibility police patrols to help tackle and prevent VAWG offences and ASB as part of night-time economy.

A youth intervention fund jointly administered by the PCC’s office and Holyhead Youth Services will support young people. Peer-led initiatives and interventions will also improve diversionary activities for young people in Holyhead, alongside the provision of youth shelters and youth outreach work.

As well as the office of the PCC, other organisations involved in the bid were North Wales Police, Anglesey County Council, Holyhead Town Council, Holyhead High School and domestic abuse support provider Gorwel.

In Flintshire, the successful bid targets the Shotton and Queensferry areas and amounts to £385,125. The funding will be used for projects including the installation of re-deployable cameras; street lighting and landscape improvements to help improve natural surveillance. The funding will also target areas that have been the focus of increased acquisitive crime and anti-social behaviour. There will also be provision for community development work, with a specific focus around young people.

Partners involved in the Flintshire bid were North Wales Police, Flintshire County Council, Flintshire Youth Justice Services and services involved in working to prevent violence against women in North Wales.

Wrexham is set to benefit from funding of £491,644, which will go towards a number of projects around North Wales’ newest city. Funding will enable the Safe Space Hub at Hafan y Dref to open on Friday nights to provide welfare and first aid to people in the night-time economy. Elsewhere in Wrexham, funding from the Safer Streets initiative will go towards school and community grants for youth ASB intervention projects; four street marshals for the night-time economy for one year; the provision of a pop-up police station at Eagles Meadow and a number of Safer Streets Respect days will help target and raise awareness to prevent ASB and VAWG. The funding will also provide visible police patrols to help tackle and prevent violence against women and girls offences and ASB on Friday and Saturday nights.

North Wales Police and Wrexham Borough Council will also be engaging with Sixth Form colleges and Glyndwr University and the wider public to help increase awareness and signpost individuals to where they can receive support for domestic abuse.

 

As well as the PCC, North Wales Police, Wrexham County Borough Council, Stepping Stones and North Wales Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre were involved in the Wrexham bid.

Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, commented: “I am delighted that the bid for funding from the Safer Streets initiative has been such a success and I would like to thank everyone involved in making sure we secured this money for North Wales.

“I am determined that residents and visitors to North Wales feel as safe and secure as possible in their communities and this funding will go a great way to tackling some of the crime hotspots across the region. From Holyhead in the west to Wrexham in the east, I am determined to deliver safer neighbourhoods and support victims and communities as part of my plan for policing.

 Superintendent for Local Policing Services at North Wales Police, Helen Corcoran, commented: “This is another example of how a strong partnership approach can do much to benefit a region. I am delighted that we will be able to support these excellent initiatives which will go a long way towards helping people to be safe and feel safe in their communities. It is a tremendous achievement and I would like to thank everybody who has been involved.”

Flintshire’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Public Health and Public Protection, Councillor Chris Bithell, said: “I welcome the news that the Home Office have awarded Flintshire this funding, it will make a difference to the quality of life of those who live and work in this area. Through adopting a partnership approach to tackling crime and disorder we can make a difference.”

Anglesey Council’s Chief Executive, Dylan J Williams, warmly welcomed the Home Office announcement: “Community safety is a priority for us as a Council, and we work very closely with our partners, especially North Wales Police, to ensure that Anglesey is a safe place to live, work and visit.

“This significant Safer Streets funding will be put to good use as part of the Holyhead Town project; by upgrading street lighting and CCTV provision in the town centre, more high visibility patrols, providing crime prevention packs to homes and supporting young people through a youth intervention fund.

“This funding provides a real opportunity to make a difference in the town centre; and we look forward to continued co-operation with Holyhead Town Council, our partners in the emergency services and support from the Gwynedd and Môn Community Safety Partnership.”

Cllr Paul Roberts, Lead Member for Partnerships and Community Safety, Wrexham County Borough Council said: “We are grateful for the support of the PCC in recognising the work that is ongoing in Wrexham. This further funding will enhance and drive forward the work being undertaken to ensure our streets are safe for everyone and that help and advice is always available for those in need of assistance and support.”