Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye’s office has been awarded £550,000 for the Safer Streets Fund from the Home Office.
The Fund was launched in June, encouraging applications from PCCs and local authorities from England and Wales to deliver interventions to improve the safety of public spaces for all, with a particular focus on areas of potential concern to women and girls.
Mr Akinbusoye said: “This fund will go a long way in helping to prevent crime and also support my focus around violence against women and girls.
“By analysing data and working with our partners and the public, we will ensure that this money is directed in targeting the neighbourhoods which need it most.”
The OPCC conducted a county wide survey in June 2021 to understand the areas of concern within the local community.
451 responses were received from adults and young persons within the County of Bedfordshire of which 42.4% (191 responses) came from people living in Bedford Borough.
A further 26 comments (6%) of those that lived in Central Bedfordshire and Luton listed areas of concern with Bedford.
Below are the focus areas:
- Lighting and CCTV
- Clearance (GROUND MAINTENANCE)
- Hollie Guard Extra App
- Crime reduction materials
- Crimestoppers Campaign
- Communications
- Coaching Programme – ‘Coaching Boys into Men’ (CBIM)
- Safe Spaces Hub
- Signage
Antonina Belcheva, the Safer Streets Lead, said: “We have worked closely with Bedford Borough Community Safety Team and I would like to thank their leader, Sarah Stevens, for her support.
“I believe that these initiatives will support the aims of the funded areas. This round of funding includes: the public footpath along the River Ouse from Prebend Street to ‘The Slipe’ which is the Ford End Road area of Queens Park. Also: Tavistock Street, Clapham Road and Ampthill Road.
“These areas are a corridor into our busy town centre. We will be engaging with wider partners in the coming weeks and will commence a series of Road Shows to educate the residents.”
Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Kelly added: “Male violence and towards women and girls has become a topic that people are finally willing to talk about.
“This is so important as we educate our young people about healthy relationships and all work together to reduce the levels of abuse, violence and discrimination against women.”
