A community safety scheme taking place currently across two areas of Middlesbrough has made big strides in tackling antisocial behaviour.
The number of antisocial behaviour incidents in Hemlington and Pallister Park has dropped dramatically following work carried out as part of the Home Office’s Safer Streets 4.
Between October 2023 and March 2023, incidents of antisocial behaviour dropped by a massive 71 per cent across both areas on the same period the previous year.
However, work is continuing in both areas to cut antisocial behaviour and improve the lives of residents and businesses.
Safer Street’s other aims are to curb criminal damage, arson and attacks on emergency services and burglary – as well as making both areas safer for local people in general.
Massive reductions in key areas
At the end of January 2023, fly tipping reports recorded by Middlesbrough Borough Council had reduced by 52.4 per cent compared to figures produced for August 2022.
In the same period, there was also a 90.1 per cent reduction in the number of deliberate fires logged by Cleveland Fire Brigade.
The £696,611 programme has seen a number of crime-busting measures carried out on both estates. They include the following:
- Installation of 10 extra CCTV cameras
- Improvements to lighting around Hemlington Lake and the Viewley Centre
- Removal of planters close to Hemlington’s Viewley Centre
- Introduction of a Community Development Worker to engage with people in both areas
- Additional youth outreach sessions in Pallister Park
- A thousand crime prevention packs, which include alarms and sash jammers, bought to improve home safety
- Kick rails installed at Darras Walk & Ellerby Green, in Pallister Park, to deter motorbike nuisance
- Shrubbery cut down around Cass House underpass and the lake, in Hemlington.
Safer Streets 4 sees the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland working in partnership with a number of agencies including Middlesbrough Council and social housing landlord Thirteen.
The Power of Partnerships
Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner said: “The success of Safer Streets 4 in just six months shows the power of partnership working.
“Safer Streets 4 will continue until the autumn, working to improve the lives of residents as well as the landscape in both designated areas.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “It’s really positive that we have seen some improvement through this scheme but it’s also why we need to continue to receive funding in order to keep these areas safe.”
Angela Corner, Thirteen’s Head of Community Resilience, said: “We are really pleased to be working in partnership to support our communities.
“This initiative supports the work we are already doing as part of our five-year locality plan commitments.
“It’s great to see some improvements and we are looking forward to our continued partnership approach to tackling these issues.”
Before the programme ends later this year, there are still a number of high profile developments to come. They include:
- The closure of the Cass House Road underpass
- Development of a community boxing gym in Hemlington
- Closure of paths under floating bedrooms from homes owned by Thirteen
- Re-surfacing work on the multi-use games area in Hemlington
Safer Streets 4 began in both areas last year. A multi-agency action plan targeting antisocial behaviour in Pallister Park and Berwick Hills was drawn up this spring.