We are delighted with the news that Chatham Town Centre has been awarded £284,000 as part of the Safer Streets Fund. The Safer Streets Fund is central to the Government’s mission of levelling up. Everyone in this country should have the security and confidence that comes from a safe street and a safe home.
Delivery will include,
- Increased CCTV to the rear of the High Streets
- Establish a new Neighbourhood Watch area
- Increase training for door and security staff in VAWG, drink spiking and welfare / vulnerability.
- Targeted outreach work with young people
- Environmental improvements, including fly tipping and graffiti removal
- Community outreach raise awareness and engagement particularly for VAWG
Matthew Scott PCC, Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent said:
Chatham, Folkestone, Sittingbourne and Sheerness will benefit from funding which will help reduce crime and antisocial behaviour, tackle violence against women and girls, support local businesses, establish neighbourhood watch groups and improve local parks.
I am delighted to be working with the Home Office again to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour in Kent and Medway. This vital investment will address the concerns that local residents and businesses have raised with me and make our neighbourhoods safer. I am grateful to Community Safety teams in Swale, Folkestone and Hythe and Medway, as well as Kent Police and my Office, for the extensive work they have put into this project and I look forward to working with them to deliver tangible benefits.
This is the fifth round of the “Safer Streets” programme which has seen investment made in Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Canterbury, Ashford, Maidstone, Gravesend and Ramsgate in previous years. Local authorities will work together with Kent Police and the PCC’s office to deliver the programmes between October 2023 and March 2025.
The joint commitment that all agencies have to tackling violence against women and girls in this project is most welcome. Whether it is through Active Bystander training, youth outreach, improvements to the public realm, training for staff working in the nighttime economy or action on drink spiking I am pleased that we have listened and acted on this issue.
You can read more via Kelly's website here, or Matthew's website here.
