Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has welcomed £1.4 million of investment for Leicestershire from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund.
The fifth, £60 million round of the Fund will continue to focus on targeting neighbourhood crime, domestic violence and anti-social behaviour.
Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner had received just over £3m through the first four rounds of the Safer Streets Fund and Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) Fund, following its launch in 2020.
The funding has been used for projects in Hinckley and Bosworth as well as North Charnwood, Blaby District, Leicester and Rutland and Warwick Way.
This has included funding for interventions targeting Neighbourhood Crime (such as CCTV, target hardening, property marking, street lighting, environmental improvements), Violence Against Women and Girls (including awareness campaigns and bystander VAWG training) and anti-Social Behaviour (helping to fund street pastors, behaviour change campaign, youth mentoring and outreach and diversionary activities for youth).
This funding takes the total investment in the Safer Streets Fund to £180m.
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, said “No one should feel unsafe in our community, which is why I’m pleased the Government continues to invest in making our streets safe.
“Earlier this year I raised plans to tackle anti-social behaviour with the Home Secretary, following concerns raised with me regarding vandalism and graffiti in playgrounds in in Bagworth, and similar issues which I know is a concern to people in Earl Shilton and Barwell.
“Tackling crime is a top priority for many people in our area, so I was pleased to meet the Chief Constable of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police recently to discuss issues such as rural and neighbourhood crime, and hear how the new 332 officers across our area getting on.”
Following a question raised in the House of Commons by Dr Evans, the Home Secretary Suella Braverman said “I was pleased to visit Leicestershire police force some months ago and I am committed to supporting communities and the police.
“We have funded several initiatives, and that is how we work together with other agencies to ensure that our streets are safer, communities can restore pride, and ultimately that criminals are put behind bars.”
