More than £300,000 is being spent to make part of Hartlepool a safer and better place to live, work and visit.
A total of £335,408 is being invested in Hartlepool’s Victoria Ward as part of the Home Office’s Safer Streets 5 programme.
The initiative involves Hartlepool Borough Council working closely with The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland and Cleveland Police to tackle neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour.
Measures have so far included:
- Security improvements to 36 alley gates in the Stephen Street, Suggitt Street, Sandringham Road, Sheriff Street, Dent Street and Derwent Street areas.
- Nine new street lighting columns installed at alley gates which had no street lighting.
- Three new mobile CCTV cameras which can be deployed in hot-spot locations and remotely monitored by the Council’s CCTV control room.
Statistics indicate that anti-social behaviour is decreasing in the ward – and this is believed to be due in part to some of the Safer Streets measures.
Maximise the use of resources
Speaking at an official launch event which took place at Hartlepool Supporters Club in Sandringham Road, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: “The success of this scheme in a relatively short period of time shows just what a difference investment in our hardest-hit communities makes.
“Effective partnership working has enabled us to maximise the use of resources as well as the benefits to local people.”
Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: “As a ward councillor, I see Safer Streets as a great start to building stronger relationships with residents, voluntary organisations and developing much-needed community cohesion in the ward.
“Residents have the right to feel safe, both when walking the streets and in their own homes. Environmental crime such as fly-tipping is not acceptable and Safer Streets is also going to address these issues through the use of CCTV and enforcement.”
Thirteen Group is providing funding to support community engagement work as part of the initiative, and Community Connector Leigh Karakostas said: “We’re pleased to be working in partnership to support our communities in Hartlepool and help them feel safer where they live.
“We know that this investment in the local area will make a difference, and we look forward to our continued partnership to make further improvements in the future.”
Future improvements
Future proposed works includes further security improvements to alley gates at other locations around the ward. These include fitting rotating anti-climb spikes – subject to planning permission – fitting lock protectors, carrying out repairs, painting and improved signage.
It is also proposed to supply security measures to the homes of 85 burglary victims and distribute burglary prevention packs to “at risk” properties in six areas – Sheriff Street/Sandringham Road, Dent Street/Derwent Street and Stephen Street/Suggitt Street. Metal screens with a printed laminate finish are to be fitted to 20 long-term empty homes.
Two key appointments have also been made to drive improvements to the town centre area – Community Cohesion Officer Martin Jones and Environmental Projects Officer Tom Carroll.
They aim to keep residents informed, find out what they want and empower them to make a real difference in their communities.
In addition to holding regular residents’ drop-in sessions with PCSO Graeme Handley, they aim to help residents set up new Neighbourhood Watch groups.
The two members of staff will help to administer a Neighbourhood Fund, to which residents can bid for small grants.
Action on waste, fly tipping and untaxed vehicles is also planned to help people take a greater pride in their community – and carry out enforcement action on those, who don’t.