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Free safety devices given out on crime-hit Mansfield estate

Mansfield day of action

Commissioner Henry giving out free bike locks with Nottinghamshire Police

Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry gave her support to a day of action in Mansfield this week.

Mansfield District Council officers, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Nottinghamshire Police joined forces to target the Oak Tree Lane estate, a hotspot for crime and antisocial behaviour.

Council and police officers handed out free locks and GPS trackers systems for bicycles and anti-theft screw kits for motorcycles during the event, which was held thanks to funding from Commissioner Henry.

Fire service officers also visited homes on the estate. They checked and fitted smoke alarms and looked for any other vulnerabilities or fire risk concerns within a property.

Commissioner Henry has committed £33,000 a year for three years to the Mansfield district to help pay for crime prevention initiatives. 

The Safer4All funding is from a pot of £800,000 that she allocated to be spent between 2022 and 2025, with £100,000 going to each of the seven local authorities in the county as well as Nottingham City Council, which equates to £33,300 per area per year.

Commissioner Henry, who visited the estate during the day of action, said: "It is really important to me that residents can have the trust and confidence to know that they will be listened to and their concerns will be taken seriously.

“This day of action, where a range of agencies came together for a common cause, really shows that we will stand up for local residents by taking action to improve their neighbourhoods.”

Crime figures show the estate experiences high offending rates with the theft of bicycles and motorbikes and arson being particular issues.

The area is currently designated a priority neighbourhood for the council, the Mansfield Community Safety Partnership and Neighbourhood Policing Team, for actions to improve the quality of life for residents. 

At the day of action, motorcycle owners had their bikes fitted with anti-theft screw kits. The kits prevent the easy removal of their bike's number plate.

This will not only act as a deterrent to theft but will also prevent the theft of number plates to hide the identity of stolen bikes, and help the police identify stolen motorcycles more easily. Owners had to show that they are residents of the estate by bringing their V5 certificates.

Oak Tree estate owners of pedal cycles were also able to collect free high quality D locks. Bikes worth over £300 could be fitted with GPS tracking devices or ImmobiBike Cycle Protection Kits.

Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: "After meeting and listening to the residents of Oak Tree, it was clear they were crying out for action to improve their estate but often felt unheard by agencies.

"We hope this crime prevention initiative will make the estate a better and safer place and improve the quality of life for residents there.”

Inspector Kylie Davies, district police commander for Mansfield, said: “We won’t allow a small number of people to upset others living in and around the Oak Tree estate.

“If residents’ lives are being negatively impacted by antisocial behaviour, we want to know about so we can put solutions in place. That’s why my officers are on patrol in the area most days - responding to incidents as they happen and building stronger relationships with local people.

“Community policing is largely about identifying problems and preventing offences before they happen, and that is what this day of action is all about. It is an added bonus that neatly complements a lot of other very good work on the estate.”

Tracey Straw, District Prevention Officer at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are really pleased to be working in the Oak Tree Lane area, especially given the number of deliberate fires recently.

"We hope that our work with partners will provide reassurance to residents and help to keep people safe from fire."

This latest day of action followed one held last month (December) at Tesco on the estate when 18 bike locks were handed out and 17 residents registered for crime updates via the Neighbourhood Alert website at: www.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk

Posted on Friday 27th January 2023
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