Thousands set aside to make our streets safer
TROUBLED ESTATES RECEIVE FUNDING
TROUBLED estates are set to share £696,611 of Government funding to beat crime and anti-social behaviour over the next two years.
The Home Office has announced that Hemlington and Pallister Park will share in Safer Streets 4 funding.
The project, which has been spearheaded by the Office of Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner and Middlesbrough Council, will fund a range of community safety measures.
The Gazette has repeatedly published reports on antisocial behaviour in both areas. In Hemlington in May, a woman was allegedly grabbed by the neck during a terrifying early morning burglary. It was claimed she awoke to two male suspects in her property, one of whom grabbed her neck and another was carrying a bladed weapon.
In another incident earlier this year, a pensioner branded the place ‘Little Beirut’ after he was forced to erect a makeshift barricade to protect his home from youngsters throwing rocks.
Around the time we visited the estate and found fire remains, bordered-up windows and litter strewn across the ground.
However, the crime hotspot has seen a 45% reduction in anti-social behaviour after a joint campaign – Operation Fortress – was launched. Police said there have been arrests, drug seizures and interventions, as well as CCTV and alleyway gates installed.
Elsewhere, in Pallister Park community concerns have also been raised.
Last month, Cllr Donna Jones, who represents Berwick Hills and Pallister, said she was annoyed that people dump their rubbish around the area. She also said trolleys being discarded were a particular bugbear.
The Middlesbrough Independent Group (MIG) councillor said: “Someone has dropped a TV down near my property and I’m like, why?
“It doesn’t matter where you drive about, there’s always someone who thinks it’s acceptable to just dump their rubbish. It’s disgusting, I’ve just passed a shopping trolley.
“That’s another blight, that’s another thing that drives me absolutely crazy, shopping trolleys all over the place. To the point where I go out with my grandchildren on a Saturday with our trolley app and it’s like, we don’t go out on a bear hunt we go on a trolley hunt.”
The new funding hopes to tackle the issues. Cleveland PCC Steve Turner said: “Receiving this funding is fantastic news for Hemlington and Pallister Park. We want to target the worsthit areas of Cleveland to make the most difference to people’s lives.
“Both Hemlington and Pallister Park have been identified as having some of the worst problems in the force area with anti-social behaviour, which we know can ruin lives, communities and businesses.”
Cllr Tony Grainge, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for neighbourhood safety, said: “With the right initiatives and funding we can and will stamp out anti-social behaviour on behalf of decent, law-abiding residents. We’re already making a big difference, and this can only strengthen the work that’s already being done.”
There’s always someone who thinks it’s acceptable to just dump their rubbish. It’s disgusting.
Donna Jones