‘This will deter those who want to do wrong from coming here’
Safer Streets funding of £1 million will be spent on boosting security for 2,000 homes in two towns. Phil reports
TWO thousand homes across two areas of Stoke-on-trent will benefit from improved security measures in a £1 million scheme.
New doors and windows, intruder alarms, better lighting and CCTV systems will be among the improvements carried out to properties in Fenton and Northwood as part of the government-funded Safer Streets programme.
The scheme, which was announced in July, will also see the installation of alley gates on terraced streets, while redeployable CCTV cameras will be used as a deterrant.
Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, submitted a successful funding bid for the two areas, which have high rates of crime, such as burglary, robbery and vehicle theft.
The homes identified as needing better security will see the improvements carried out over the next two years.
Mr Ellis said: “There’s no getting away from the fact that these areas suffer from acquisitive crime such as burglary and lower level crime.
“So we applied for Safer Streets funding, and I think we ended up with the fourth highest amount in the country.
“We can do 2,000 homes and improve their security – everything from better door locks, gates on alleyways, boarding up where necessary.
“These are things that will make the place feel safer, and actually make it safer as well, in the hope that criminals will be less likely to target this area.
“We will make houses more difficult to break into, while CCTV cameras will hopefully deter people who want to do wrong from coming here.
“And above all it will send a strong message to people here that we want to support them.”
Over the last 12 months, Fenton has seen 66 burglaries, 11 robberies and 85 ‘other thefts’.
Sergeant Chris Moss, deputy commander for Stoke South at Staffordshire Police, said: “Burglars will go for easy targets. If your security isn’t to a high standard, then you could potentially be a target for burglars.
“So the idea of the project is to reduce that level of offending because it’s harder for them to commit those crimes.
“Security perhaps wasn’t in the minds of the planners when these houses were built. So they do lend themselves to certain types of crime.
“For example, the alleyways between houses can be very dark at night, which give people places to hide and sneak around.”
One resident in Berdmore Street,
Fenton, who did not wish to be named, said the area had a real problem with crime.
She said: “A lot of it is to do with drugs. You see people dealing in the street, and there are always needles on the ground. Someone with a gun robbed the off-licence the other day. All those people need to be taken out of the area.
“But improving the security of the houses will help. A lot of the houses here don’t have secure front doors, and so you get some people who will walk down trying the handles.”
Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-onTrent City Council, welcomed the Safer Streets funding.
She said: “Clearly these areas have a higher level of acquisitive crime than other parts of the city, which is why they’ve qualified for this funding, and from speaking to the police and residents I know that the funding is very much welcomed.
“I think this will start to build confidence among residents. To deal with problems such as substance abuse and violence, we need to have that confidence.”
A total of £25 million from the Safer Street Fund has been allocated to 35 PCCS around the country following a bidding process.