Caroline Henry outside Newark Police station
Residents in Newark are being asked for their views following a major safety overhaul that has funded extra police patrols and free state-of-the-art home security.
Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry has launched an online survey to understand how recent investment to reduce burglary, theft and robbery in the Mill Gate, Bowbridge and Barnby Gate areas of the town has made people feel safer and reduced their fear of crime.
Commissioner Henry has been working in partnership with Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire County Council since last year to deliver measures proven to cut crime, dedicating £134,000 of joint funding to improve safety.
The interventions, which followed the original Safer Streets 1 project launched in July 2020, have included the installation of sophisticated security devices at residents’ homes, upgraded street lighting, environmental cleaning, additional police visibility patrols and free GPS trackers for cyclists.
Latest figures show that key crimes in Newark and Sherwood fell significantly in the 12 months up to February 2022, with burglary down -12%, Antisocial Behaviour by -26%, bike theft by -23%, robbery by -18%, drug offences by -12% and vehicle crime by -7%.
The snapshot survey will ask people how the security improvements have impacted their lives and their views for work in the future.
Commissioner Henry said: “I am proud of the changes we have made to improve safety in Newark.
“These crime figures show our efforts are already making a difference. The more we can do to deter and prevent crime in the first place, the more victims will be spared the emotional distress of falling prey to criminals.
“Newark now has a wealth of new technology and resources to catch offenders red-handed - wherever they operate, we will be watching.
“There is much more we want to do. Safer Streets is just the start of what will be a long-term effort to protect our homes and streets from criminals.
“I hope local people in Newark already feel safer but the good work will continue and I will continue to listen and prioritise their needs.”
Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It is so encouraging to see the measures implemented during this project successfully tackling crime in our community. This survey will allow us to not only see that success through data and figures but also hopefully in the feedback we get from residents. I urge all residents to use this survey as a platform to have their voices heard.
“The drop in crime rates is testament to the hard work and resources that have been committed to the Safer Streets project, and I hope this is yet another step in the right direction towards our community feeling more secure and our residents feeling safer.”
Superintendent Kevin Broadhead, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Keeping the public safe remains one of our top priorities and I would really encourage people from across the county in these areas to complete the survey and tell us how these improvements have impacted lives and made people feel safer.
“It’s also a great opportunity for us and our partners to see what else we can do to make people feel safe and really listen and act on any feedback we receive.”
Newark MP Robert Jenwick said: “I am glad that the Safer Street Project, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner and Nottinghamshire County Council, has allowed increased security measures in local areas around Newark, especially around Mill Gate, Bowbridge Road and Barnby Gate.
“The £134,000 fund has allowed concerned residents to install state of the art security technology in their homes, alongside more regular visible patrols around these areas.
“It is important to understand the impact of this funding on how safe residents and local people feel around these areas, informing future funding for our local area, helping to make more of our local streets safer.”
Safer Streets 2 has already delivered significant investment in Newark including:
- The installation of 68 upgraded street lights worth £25k
- 1177 extra hours of police patrols to reassure residents
- Free security upgrades on 84 homes including new fencing, Passive Infrared sensor (PIR) lighting to detect motion, alarms and locks.
- WIFI security cameras at over 46 houses including victims of burglary and their neighbours.
- 42 Free Global Positioning System (GPS) cycle trackers providing accurate, real time location information directly to a mobile phone
- Bike Register marking for 102 cycles
- 91.5 hours of environmental improvements undertaken including litter and graffiti removal and fly-tipping
To complete the survey visit https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=164579066647
The survey closes on March 28.
ENDS
Posted on Friday 18th March 2022