Major improvements have been made to reduce the risk of crime across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland as part of an ambitious six-figure project led by Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews.
A team of safety experts from the PCC's office, the force and local authority partners have been overhauling homes and communities with safety technology to reduce the risk of people falling prey to crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB).
The work, funded through a Safer Streets 5 grant, is taking place in Melton Town Centre and Oadby and Wigston.
Most of the improvements are already complete in Melton Mowbray and include 12 new solar vision lights as well as a new WCCTV Help Point System that enables a person in distress to instantly communicate with the force or local authority CCTV control room.
The area has also benefitted from three new CCTV cameras and four solar fly-tipping cameras to tackle environmental crime which are already being utilised.
In addition, a new youth outreach and educational project is being run by local organisation Streetvibe to divert young people away from crime in the town. The scheme, which runs until March 2025, is attracting up to 20 young people per session.
In Oadby and Wigston, preparatory work for new street-based safety cameras has now been completed with full installation due in the coming weeks. This will eventually enable mobile cameras to be moved between hotspot crime areas to deter crime, increase public reassurance and support evidence-gathering.
In addition, more than 260 homes have been provided with free security equipment to make them less of a target for burglars with more due to be completed in the next six months.
Officers and volunteers have been engaging with householders to ensure all eligible householders take up the offer and protect their properties against burglary.
Mr Matthews said: "I am delighted with the rapid improvements that have been made through this project. I wholeheartedly endorse the ‘prevention over cure' approach - it's not only cheaper for the public purse, it also avoids people becoming victims of crime which we know can bring a lifetime of psychological harm.
"We have a huge number of organisations and professionals to thank for pulling this project off and ensuring residents benefit without delay. I'm sure in future we will see the impact of these changes on offending patterns in these areas and on public confidence. The fear of crime can be just as debilitating as the experience of crime itself and I know these important changes have been gratefully received by residents. I look forward to further reporting on the full completion of this work in due course."
