Local MP Maria Miller has welcomed government's additional funding to Hampshire PCC as part of the Safer Streets Fund.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones has together with local partners secured £275,000 of Government Safer Streets funding for Basingstoke to carry out a variety of crime prevention measures including installing CCTV in residential and commercial areas and improving lighting in several locations.
The Safer Streets Fund is a Government initiative designed to reduce acquisitive crime by providing Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities with funding to implement proven crime prevention measures.
Maria commented; “Basingstoke is a safe community and our local Police work hard to keep it that way. This extra funding from the Government will help address some of the concerns that people have raised with me, particularly residents in the town centre. Extra street lighting, help with better security systems for homes and garages will all make sure people feel safer.
“Community safety is a real priority for Basingstoke and this extra funding has been secured because our Police and Crime Commissioner works in partnership with the local Basingstoke Council to secure support for the community. “
“How crime affects a community shifts over time, so it’s really important to hear regularly from residents about their concerns and ideas on community safety in their part of the Borough. I will be meeting residents in the town centre on 24th June to discuss this.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: “Over the last year people have told me that they don’t just want to see crime going down, they also want to feel safer. Improving street lighting and CCTV coverage, assisting residents with security systems for their properties, and generally making it harder for criminals to commit burglaries and robberies in some of the worst affected residential areas will achieve that. The Safer Streets fund is a great Government initiative and I am really pleased that together with partners in those affected areas we were able to secure this essential funding.”
In Basingstoke, the project will focus on security systems for residents to help prevent shed and garage burglaries, bike marking kits, and improved CCTV and street lighting in dark and secluded parts of the area and in the city centre.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Planning and Infrastructure Cllr Simon Bound said: “I am delighted that the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s bid for funding to implement new security measures and support residents in the town centre and Eastrop to feel safer in their area has been successful. We look forward to working with them to deliver the programme.
“Crime in any form is completely unacceptable and has a huge impact for victims. Ensuring residents feel safe is a key priority for the council and alongside the work of our community safety team, we continue to work closely with the Police and Police and Crime Commissioner to address key issues across the borough."