CCTV surveillance to be "upgraded" as part of South Kesteven Safer Streets initiative
£250,000 is being spent to help authorities crackdown on crime in the district's night-time economy
Last updated 10th Feb 2024
£250,000 is being spent on a new Safer Streets project in South Kesteven, to help authorities tackle county lines, child exploitation and violence against women and girls across the district.
The 18-month scheme to crackdown on crime in the district's night-time economy came from a successful bid by SKDC for £172,000 of Government money, with a further £93,000 from the Council.
Immediate work will start on extending the Pub Watch Scheme; providing training for staff operating the Ask for Angela initiative, where people feeling threatened in a public setting can seek help from bar staff or waiters.
SKDC has also outlined a Home Safe scheme as a priority, which would enable someone who is vulnerable or under threat to get home safely.
Other measures include:
- Rolling out anti-spiking equipment to venues
- Organising self defence classes
- Providing personal alarms and torches to women and girls to support their journey home
- 48 CCTV cameras upgraded or replaced
- An increase in CCTV staffing during weekend evenings
- More night-time and weekend patrols from SKDC's neighbourhoods and licensing officers
The overall initiative will mainly cover Grantham, but further patrols in hotspot areas across the district will be carried out where necessary.
Cabinet Member for People and Communities, Cllr Rhea Rayside, said: "These initiatives will help improve the night-time economy in Grantham by making the area feel safer for those out and about.
“Home Safe is an extension of Ask for Angela, to give venue operators another option to help anyone who appears to be vulnerable or under threat and has no way to remove themselves from a situation.
Peter Harrison, who started work as Safer Streets Coordinator at the end of January, said: "I know the area well, having worked in relevant areas of the council over the 30 of years I have worked here, and have worked with business, our partner agencies and the public throughout that time.
"I have already started the groundwork to get our projects off the ground and look forward to work alongside local venues, the police and the public, businesses, charities and volunteer groups, as well as the statutory agencies across South Kesteven to make a difference to safety and how safe people actually feel."