Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry alongside Chief Inspector Chris Pearson.
Action has been taken to stop an antisocial behaviour hotspot causing safety concerns for local residents.
A two-metre high fence has been installed at the plantation site off Thompson Gardens, Top Valley, which was often used as a rat run by suspects on off-road bikes to evade police.
The £18,000 investment has secured the site and made it safer for local residents to walk through. The previous collapsed mesh fencing was replaced at the start of June and the new fencing has just two pedestrian entrances.
The latest work comes after the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire secured £3 million of Safer Streets funding from the Home Office in July 2022 for projects across the county aimed at making public spaces safer.
Working in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police and Nottingham City Council, a range of projects have been delivered that will help tackle antisocial behaviour and neighbourhood crime, as well as violence against women and girls.
Another Safer Streets project in the Top Valley area includes £132,000 to fund home security devices. More than 170 houses in the area have so far either been kitted out with or been offered new CCTV and video doorbells as well as motion sensor security lights and window alarms.
Speaking during Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “I have been listening to residents’ concerns about anti-social behaviour and we are taking action by using Safer Streets funding to improve neighbourhoods.
“This work is as a result of in-depth research and analysis done to establish the causes of antisocial behaviour and ways to prevent it, while having the safety of the people within the neighbourhood at the forefront of our thinking.
“The new pedestrian entrances to the site mean that we will have far less individuals willing to take the risk of committing a crime and looking for that route to escape from the police.
“To have the fencing up and ready for the summer months when antisocial behaviour is usually on the increase means that we are in a strong position and ahead of the game in aiming to limit the numbers from here on in.
“I would encourage the people of Nottinghamshire to keep on reporting issues of antisocial behaviour, because it helps give us clarity on the issues affecting communities and what we need to do off the back of that to provide the best possible resources to make people feel safer.”
Burglary prevention officer PCSO Amardeep Sandhu is tasked with assessing properties and nearby areas to check for insecurities that may lead to antisocial behaviour.
“Those who live close to the alleyway that leads into the plantation have noticed a considerable difference and have a sense of safety in their own homes,” he said.
“When I’ve been doing my rounds in the area there have been times where, as I’m parked up, I’ve seen cyclists having to slow down as they approach the entrance.
“If somebody is on a bike they would have to angle it to fit through the gap, which shows it’s not as easy as it used to be to just pass through.
“It’s having a positive impact on the community. They feel happier and more reassured that they are being put first with money put into improving the Top Valley area.”
A new task force was recently launched to step up the fight against antisocial behaviour and improve the quality of life for people across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Partners are joining forces to work more efficiently and effectively in tackling issues including street drinking and drug use, aggressive begging, kerb crawling, noise nuisance, harassment, graffiti, vandalism and littering.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is spearheading the task force to lead collaboration between Nottinghamshire Police and each of the city, district and borough councils.
Inspector Paul Ferguson, Neighbourhood Inspector for City North, said: “The addition of this new fencing around the site will only help us when it comes to cracking down on antisocial behaviour and those people who blight our communities with their illegal activities and cause a nuisance to our residents.
“Thanks to the Safer Streets funding we’ve been able to put these safety measures in place and I hope they will not only help us tackle antisocial behaviour but also make residents in the area feel safer and listened to that we are acting on their concerns.”
Councillor Sajid Mohammed, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods, Safety and Inclusion at Nottingham City Council, said: “We know this particular area of Top Valley has suffered from longstanding problems with anti-social behaviour which has been impacting on the lives of local residents.
“The Safer Streets funding has, so far, allowed us to install new CCTV cameras in Nottingham, offer video doorbells for residents and provide more things for young people to do.
“The latest part of the project has been the installation of fencing at the plantation site off Thompson Gardens. This particular location was identified as a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and I’m glad we’ve been able to take this action on behalf of residents.”
Posted on Wednesday 5th July 2023