Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach has been awarded more than £1.5m to detect and prevent burglary, theft and robbery in three hotspots across the county, it has been revealed.
The PCC has secured the funding from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund, which earmarks £25m for increased detection and prevention measures across England and Wales to target acquisitive crime.
Leicestershire has been awarded £549,998 for an area in Westcotes that includes Narborough Road and neighbouring streets; £549,999 for the Warwick Way and Dishley estates in Loughborough; and £418,309 for Braunstone Frith. The maximum available for each area is £550k.
The funding will now be invested in proactive crime prevention and detection tools including CCTV, enhanced street lighting, graffiti removal and free home security improvements for residents in qualifying areas.
It will also fund the appointment of community safety coordinators across all three communities who will work with community groups and residents to deliver crime prevention advice and support.
Commenting on the announcement, Willy Bach said: “This is fantastic news for these three areas which our profiling suggested needed additional help. Between them, they have been awarded more than £1.5m of funding for improvements – close to the maximum available from this fund – which will make a real difference to the quality of life in these communities.
“The Home Office was impressed with the evidence we presented to highlight the complex problems in these areas and our approach to resolving them. I cannot thank my team and our local partners enough for their extensive efforts in collating Police data and analysing trends to ensure our bids were successful.
“This funding is a huge a boost to our partnership work, giving us the opportunity of taking assertive measures to deter crime in these areas and improve our ability to detect it. The learning from this work will be given to the Home Office to help identify best practice.
“We are looking forward to working with these communities and our partners to improve public safety, achieve long-term reductions in acquisitive crime and importantly reduce fear among local people.
“At a really tough time like this, it is superb news for our communities.”
Cllr Piara Singh Clair, Chair of the Safer Leicester Partnership and Deputy City Mayor said: “We are delighted to be awarded this grant from the Home Office and I am hopeful that the grant will help us to create safer streets in these parts of the city,”.
Cllr Leigh Harper-Davies, lead member for communities at Charnwood Borough Council, added: “This is good news for residents in the Warwick Way and Dishley areas of Loughborough. We look forward to this project developing so it can help tackle burglaries and thefts in those areas.
“Charnwood is a safe place but we cannot be complacent and when there are problems, the Council will work with partners to tackle them. We are delighted to be working with the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner and Leicestershire Police.”
If you live in Westcotes area that includes Narborough Road and neighbouring streets or in Warwick Way and Dishley estates in Loughborough and Braunstone Frith in Leicester.
You could apply for the Safer Streets Scheme and get Free door and window alarms and security devices including security lights fiited.
Trevor a local resident from Braunstone Frith said:
"As with most something for nothing schemes, I first thought this is too good to be true and has to be a scam, but this was not the case, after phoning the contact number an appointment was made 14 days later for a site survey. A phone call was received to say the engineer was on the way, a 10 minute walk round following covid standards was made and all internal items installed within 40 minutes, including fence spikes.
The lights were installed by a separate electrical engineer 2 weeks later, but as they are solar powered no access to the inside of the house was required. all locks came with 2 keys. Locks 24-7 are a reputable company and the fitter was a fully qualified locksmith"
We’ve teamed up with the Home Office, Leicester City Council, Charnwood Borough Council and 24/7 Locks to enhance home security in Westcotes, Braunstone Frith and the Warwick Way & Dishley estates.
TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE SECURITY UPGRADES
Call 0800 678 5458
Safer Streets Scheme
THESE SECURITY UPGRADES INCLUDE FITTING PRODUCTS SUCH AS:
HIGH-SECURITY DOOR LOCKS
WINDOW LOCKS
SECURITY LIGHTING
DOOR ALARMS
WINDOW ALERT ALARMS & OTHER ITEMS
THIS SCHEME IS GOVERNMENT FUNDED AND THERE IS NO CHARGE TO RESIDENTS
*THIS OFFER IS AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD ONLY*