A government announcement that Hertsmere is to be one of 40 areas across England and Wales allocated grant funding to tackle neighbourhood crime and improve safety in the community has been welcomed.
Hertsmere Borough Council has been allocated £116,000 to help make the borough’s streets safer through projects to crack down on neighbourhood crimes like burglary, vehicle theft and robbery following a specific bid relating to the Leeming Road and Cowley Hill area of Borehamwood.
The money, from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund, will go towards measures proven to cut crime, including simple changes to the design of streets such as environmental enhancements, improved CCTV and community engagement.
Cllr Pervez Choudhury, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, commented: “The Safer Streets Fund aims to support those areas disproportionately affected by neighbourhood or ‘acquisitive’ crimes, including offences like burglary, vehicle-related theft, theft from a person or robbery, as they develop approaches to help make those areas safer. Hertsmere’s Community Safety Partnership will work together closely to develop an action plan around how this funding can best be invested in this part of Borehamwood.”
Hertsmere’s Chief Inspector Mark Bilsdon said: “I know that crimes such as burglary and theft have a huge and sometimes long lasting impact on victims and the wider local community.
“It’s great news that Hertsmere Borough Council has been awarded funding through the Safer Streets Fund and we’ll be working closely with our partners at the council on projects that will make it harder for criminals to operate in our borough and will prevent people from becoming victims of crime.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, David Lloyd, said: “It is great news that this government funding has been secured for Hertsmere to make real positive changes for the residents. Recently I visited the first two Safer Streets areas in Cheshunt where hundreds of homes have benefited, and heard how much safer people are now feeling.”
