In January 2020 the Home Office launched the Safer Streets Fund, which made £25 million available to reduce the impact of theft and burglary in some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) could submit up-to three bids, up to a maximum of £550,000 each, to support neighbourhoods that were disproportionately affected by high rates of acquisitive crime.
The Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland (OPCC) was able to demonstrate the scale of theft and burglary offences within Cleveland, and was successful in securing funding of £1,0343,696, and was one of the few areas nationally that acquired funding for all three bid areas.
The goal for Cleveland is to implement target hardening measures to deter crime, and protect properties from crime, whilst providing resources to enhance the support provided to victims of crime, and the deployment of community link workers and community lead initiatives to assist in regenerating the areas. As well as reducing the number of offences, a key priority is to reduce repeat victimisation and reduce the fear of crime in the community.
This funding will be utilised to provide, but will not be limited to, installation of additional street lighting and CCTV cameras, regenerating alley gates, installation of void property screening, providing Safe at Home Packs to households, providing community cohesion and mediation posts, victim care officers, and to enhance the local crime prevention panels, and Neighbourhood Watch schemes.
The project will be led by the OPCC, and delivered in partnership with Middlesbrough Borough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Cleveland Police, Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), Cleveland Fire Support Network, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Thirteen Housing, Beyond Housing, Accent Housing and Neighbourhood Watch.
Breakdown of funding by area is as follows:
Middlesbrough, Newport – Total Funding £479,838
People (e.g. project managers, staff) £102,108
Equipment (e.g., Doors, alley gates, streetlights) £350,730
Subcontracting (e.g. arrangements with partners to deliver services or procure equipment) £11,500
Other (e.g. crime prevention publicity materials) £15,500
Total £479,838
Redcar, South Bank – Total Funding £110,250
People (e.g. project managers, staff) £39,000
Equipment (e.g., Doors, alley gates, streetlights) £51,750
Subcontracting (e.g. arrangements with partners to deliver services or procure equipment) £0
Other (e.g. crime prevention publicity materials) £19,500
Total £110,250
Hartlepool, Burn Valley – Total Funding £444,608
People (e.g. project managers, staff) £90,000
Equipment (e.g., Doors, alley gates, streetlights) £341,312
Subcontracting (e.g. arrangements with partners to deliver services or procure equipment) £7,000
Other (e.g. crime prevention publicity materials) £6,296
Total £444,608
Total Project funding: £1,034,696
Decision 2021-00270691 – Safer Streets Funding 2020/21 (application, 199kB)