Extra cash to help two Charnwood parks become safer

DOZENS OF NEW CCTV CAMERAS TO BE INSTALLED

MORE money has been given to a scheme to make girls and women feel safer in parks across the city and the county.

Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews wants to improve 18 parks with at least 31 new CCTV cameras, extra lights and other work to make the areas feel safe.

He had already secured £550,000 in funding from the Home Office and he has now been granted another £44,000 to expand the project.

The improvements will take place at the following parks:

Victoria Park, Braunstone Park, Abbey Park, Western Park, Bede Park, Aylestone Meadows, Rally Park, Knighton Park in Leicester; Queens Park and Bradgate Park in Charnwood;

Warwick Park in Kibworth Harcourt and Welland Park in Market Harborough; Clarendon Park in Hinckley; Melton Country Park in Melton;

Brock Hill Country Park in Oadby and Blaby Road Park in Wigston;

Cutts Close Park and Tod’s Piece Park in Rutland.

Commenting on the extra funding, Mr Matthews said: “This is fantastic news for our communities and will enable us to maximise the impact of this project and ensure our streets and public spaces are even safer.

“Our plans are now well underway, with the first CCTV cameras already installed and many more to follow. We have listened to the needs of women in the pre-bid survey and it is hugely rewarding for the team to be delivering positive changes in the way women want.

“This extra funding will contribute to these efforts, helping us to achieve the best possible quality from this new technology and also supporting our ambition to challenge the misogynistic attitudes and inequalities that foster genderbased violence in our communities.”

The commissioner also announced his home and vehicle security scheme - called Safer Streets 2 - has also been awarded extra funding.

It provides free home security devices and vehicle locks and other safety measures.

It had already been given £432,000 and has now received a further £50,000.

Hundreds of homes in the town centres of Castle Donington, Hinckley, Lutterworth and Melton Mowbray have already received free security upgrades after being identified as having a disproportionately higher risk of street crime.

The new funding will pay for vehicle security packages for up to 465 households in Hinckley, Lutterworth and Castle Donington, which have already had their homes secured.

Residents will be offered items such as steering locks and Faraday Pouch signal blockers to prevent electronic key data being altered and protect against car theft, advanced bike locks and tracking and marking kits for motorbikes.

All households eligible for help and within the catchment area will be informed by post.