Security improvements having desired effect in Balderton
Shopkeepers in Balderton say they are enjoying going to work again after major security improvements led to a 37% drop in antisocial behaviour in the area.
Lakeside Balderton Shopping Centre is one place in-particular to have benefitted from the new safety features, after seeing a reduction in the number of people gathering outside doorways and causing issues after dark.
The work is part of a broader effort to tackle neighbourhood crime and antisocial behaviour across Balderton, with the installation of the new 4G CCTV cameras in key areas in addition to benches and bins to reduce litter and create a more welcoming environment.
Workers from Jennings Bet and Tallis Auto Stores among others who are now feeling the ‘amazing’ benefits of a quieter shop front.
Jean Hall, Manager of Jennings Bet, said: “We’ve had quite a lot of issues in the past with antisocial behaviour on the precinct where children would dominate the area and make the shops unusable at times.
“The doorways were blocked and we as staff would have to move them on, so elderly customers in-particular would feel intimidated.
“But more recently we’ve had some effective CCTV fitted and the policing presence in the area has improved.
“The CCTV has made me feel a lot safer when coming to work, and it’s been amazing to see the difference in what we used to deal with to how things are now.”
The work came after the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire secured £1million for the Safer Streets 5 project via the Home Office.
As part of this, Balderton has received a share of that funding to help tackle neighbourhood crime, antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls.
This was the fourth time Newark and Sherwood has benefitted from Safer Streets funding and over £1 million has been invested towards a safer Newark and Sherwood from the scheme to date.
The environmental improvements have been included in the project to target and reduce what is known as the broken windows theory, which suggests that that if an area has littering, graffiti or visible signs of vandalism around it, it will often serve to attract other crime and antisocial behaviour.
Nottinghamshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden said: “The new security upgrades in Balderton are proving invaluable for locals and their feelings of safety particularly when going to work.
“We are tackling antisocial behaviour in several ways, including from an educational perspective with young people now recognising that the area they live in is to be treated with the respect it deserves, making Balderton a more welcoming village.
“The Safer Streets project has already made a significant difference to the community of Balderton, and hearing first-hand stories of how it continues to do so is really pleasing.”
A new youth pod at Coronation Park has also been well received, offering young people a safe space to gather and socialise.
The youth pod, installed as part of the Safer Streets 5 project, has become a vital addition to the park, providing shelter and a safe place for local young people.
The pod is equipped with CCTV to ensure the safety of all users, giving both the community and young people peace of mind leading to positive feedback from its users.
The success of the youth pod complements other improvements in the area. In addition to CCTV and environmental upgrades, behaviour change sessions have been held to address and reduce antisocial behaviour.
Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Safer Streets 5 has been a great success in Balderton and it’s rewarding to hear, first-hand, that the shopkeepers are seeing a difference, feel safer and that our hard work is having an impact.
“We know that antisocial behaviour can have a negative impact on the quality of life of our residents and businesses, and we are committed to working with our partners Balderton Parish Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire Police and our communities to address it.
“I am really pleased to hear from the community in Balderton that our efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour with our partners is working.”
Chair of Balderton Parish Council, Jane Buxton, said: “The Safer Street partnership offered us a unique opportunity to work alongside other organisations to tackle antisocial behaviour and we are thrilled with the outcome.
“Through the implementation of a wide range of initiatives, from renewing signage, installing litter bins and updating CCTV, it really is amazing to see such a large drop in antisocial behaviour as a result of our joint efforts.
“Our residents should not have to fear leaving their homes to go shopping after dark and hopefully these measures contribute in helping them feel safer in our village.”
The previous round of Safer Streets funding saw interventions such as vehicle crime prevention days, new intercom systems at blocks of flats, an innovative Safer Gyms scheme and more.
This led to reports that in Newark town centre where the action was taken, there was a 26% reduction in vehicle crime, a 19% drop in house burglary and a 16% fall in violence against women and girls.
Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “Cracking down on antisocial behaviour has been a long-held mission for our policing teams across Newark, so it’s pleasing to see incident numbers continue to drop.
“A lot of work goes on each day to tackle this issue, which we know, having listened to feedback from the community, is a topic that matters to the people living in our area.
“While antisocial behaviour isn’t something that will ever just go away overnight, it is really important that we do whatever we can as a policing team, alongside our partners, to stay on top of this.
“The Safer Streets project is a great example of us working with local partners to great effect, with this funding helping make improvements to the area that compliment the work our officers already do in the community to deter offending.”
To report antisocial behaviour in your neighbourhood, call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or visit the web page linked below to report.