Commissioner Caroline Henry with Ben Bradley
Residents in Mansfield are being asked for their views following a major safety overhaul in the town centre that has funded extra CCTV and free home security for hundreds of people.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry has launched an online survey to see how recent investment to reduce burglary, theft and robbery in Mansfield has made people feel safer and reduced their fear of crime.
Commissioner Henry has been working in partnership with Mansfield District Council, Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire County Council since July last year to deliver a raft of safety improvements in the Portland and Woodlands areas of the town.
The interventions, funded in partnership with Nottingham City Council thanks to a grant from the Home Office’s Safer Streets 2 Fund, have included the installation of sophisticated security devices including solar-powered CCTV at residents’ homes, improved street lighting, additional police visibility patrols and extra CCTV on the streets to reduce the risk of crime.
In January 2022, a further £50k was awarded by the Home Office to expand the reach of the scheme and benefit even more residents.
Latest figures show in relation to the offences targeted, crime has reduced significantly in the 12 months to February 2022 with residential burglary falling -47%, vehicle offences -46%, robbery of personal property – 33% and trafficking in controlled drugs -30%.
The snapshot survey will ask people how Safer Streets 2 improvements have impacted their lives and their views for improvements in the future.
Commissioner Henry said: “I am proud of the changes we have made to improve safety in Mansfield.
“These crime figures show our efforts are already making a difference. The more we can do to deter and prevent crime in the first place, the more victims will be spared the emotional distress of falling prey to criminals.
“There is much more we want to do. Safer Streets is just the start of what will be a long-term effort to protect our homes and streets from criminals.
“I hope local people in Mansfield already feel safer but the good work will continue and I will continue to listen and prioritise their needs.”
Councillor Marion Bradshaw, Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities, Housing and Wellbeing said: “Streets in the two targeted wards of Woodlands and Portland, adjacent to the town centre, have been made much safer thanks to these burglary reduction projects. Residents who have benefitted feel a lot more secure and safe in their homes and I can say that the scheme has been a great success.”
Mansfield MP Ben Bradley added: “It's been great to see Mansfield get this extra investment, which has supported local people to get extra help with security as well as funding the promised additional officers, and neighbourhood schemes. It's much needed, and all very welcome.
“The Police and Crime Commissioner has listened to local residents, and to the issues I have raised with her, and I'm hopeful that people will have seen and felt the difference in recent months. It's always good news when Mansfield receives extra investment.”
Superintendent Kevin Broadhead, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Keeping the public safe remains one of our top priorities and I would really encourage people from across the county in these areas to complete the survey and tell us how these improvements have impacted lives and made people feel safer.
“It’s also a great opportunity for us and our partners to see what else we can do to make people feel safe and really listen and act on any feedback we receive.”
Among hundreds of Mansfield residents to benefit from the scheme is Lynne whose home was targeted last year as she was watching television. The offender was disturbed before they could steal anything but the experience left Lynne and her family anxious.
“It was very frightening. We had a restless night, just to think somebody must have seen that we were in with the TV and lamp on and still came in,” she said.
“We feel so secure now and very privileged to have the work done. It’s fantastic and I cannot thank Megan and Mark, the contractor, enough. All the cameras are linked to my mobile phone so if we’re not in the house, all we have to do is look on the phone to see who’s around.
“It has been well worth it. Before we felt very exposed but now the house is all lit up when anybody comes on to the property.”
Safer Streets 2 has already delivered significant investment in Mansfield including:
- The installation of more than 50 upgraded or renewed street lights
- Free security upgrades on 220 homes including repairs or security improvements to doors and windows and where beneficial repairs to gates/perimeter fencing.
- The installation of security cameras at 80 households
- The installation of eight new CCTV cameras in key locations across Mansfield (expected to be fully operational by March)
- 240 hours of environmental cleansing up to January including litter and graffiti removal and fly-tipping at a value of almost £11,000
- Park Mark safety accreditation for 11 car parks across Mansfield to reassure local people of the commitment to safety
- More than 200 new registrations to police messaging system Nottinghamshire Alert
- Five new Neighbourhood Watch groups in development in Mansfield
To complete the survey visit: https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=164571216309
ENDS
Posted on Friday 18th March 2022