Resident finally feels safe in own home

A victim of antisocial behaviour has breathed a sigh of relief this week after security equipment was fitted at her home.

Ann Rodgers had suffered months of torment from gangs of youths harassing her outside her home in Lytham Gardens, Top Valley.

But there is now light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the Safer Streets scheme which allowed a brand-new video doorbell, deterrent spotlights, as well as a front and rear CCTV system to be put in place at her property.

More than 1,000 houses in the area have been offered the upgrades, and the local mother says they have already made a huge difference to her life.

“I’ve lived in this house for over 21 years and had never felt so unsafe. Since having these devices installed, I have felt much safer in my property and I have had no issues,” she said.

“I had a regular problem with groups of young people damaging the rear wall of my garden and jumping on cars out in the alleyways.

“I also informed my next-door neighbour and she had them installed and said how safer she feels now. My daughter, who lives locally, has also had additional security installed thanks to Safer Streets.”

The work has been made possible after the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire secured £3 million from the Home Office for projects which help reduce neighbourhood crime, antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls.

These projects are being delivered in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and local authorities, including Nottingham City Council.

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said It was brilliant to hear that residents are already benefitting from the extended security offered by having video doors bells and CCTV installed.

“There’s nothing worse than feeling unsafe in your own home, and this is something that we are dedicated to tackling through the Safer Streets programme,” said Commissioner Henry.

“I’m really glad Ann is feeling safer now. Safer Streets programmes such as extra home security are additional to the great work Nottinghamshire Police and partners already deliver in the city.”

After receiving a Safer Streets leaflet in the post, Ann contacted PCSO Amardeep Sandhu who promptly visited her with another officer and performed a security assessment at her home.

PCSO Sandhu advised on a mixture of CCTV equipment, and deterrent spotlights which would give Ann peace of mind, as well as warding off any unwanted visitors.

“The Safer Streets Scheme for me was always about putting the resident first, not just making properties more secure but for residents to feel much safer,” said PCSO Sandhu.

Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Safety and Inclusion, Cllr Sajid Mohammed, said: “The security improvements being carried out through the Safer Streets programme offer real, practical solutions which make a huge difference to how safe people feel in their own homes

“Residents like Ann have a right not to feel frightened or anxious in their homes and it’s great that with simple interventions like this, we can turn things around for them and give them a sense of peace and relief.”