PFCC announces £1.5m of Local Safer Streets funding to improve community safety in Essex

Posted Thursday 12th September 2024

£1.5m funding for community safety projects from across Essex has been announced by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex. 

Details of the latest tranche of funding, totalling £1,574,342, from the PFCC’s Local Safer Streets Fund have now been announced. 

The money has been granted to 19 community projects across Essex which all aim to help communities make streets and public spaces safe and secure. 

A major project to improve community safety in Castle Point district has received £1,041,534 for 64 new CCTV cameras and improved CCTV infrastructure. This project includes new cameras on Canvey Island and in Benfleet and Hadleigh. 

This bid has received match funding of £183,207 from partners and the new CCTV system will benefit from monitoring arrangements with Southend City Council’s control system, providing economies of scale through close collaboration between authorities. 

Among other areas which have received funding include Epping Forest, Basildon, Braintree, Colchester, Chelmsford, Thurrock, Tendring and Southend. 

All applications to Safer Streets which met the established criteria were successful in receiving funding. The efforts of applicants are appreciated the PFCC is committed to supporting initiatives that align with the Police and Crime plan. 

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build success, prosperity and well-being for all. 

“I am delighted to allocate Local Safer Streets funding from the round two, tranche three, to improve the lighting, CCTV, install safety measures and support awareness campaigns in key areas across Essex. 

“Safer Streets funding is making a difference in Essex – anti-social behaviour incidents in Essex are now 70% lower than they were in 2016 

“We aim for no person to feel unsafe in their community or in public, but we have a particular focus on the safety of women and girls. All these projects will build community safety in our county.” 

Cllr Dave Blackwell, Leader of Castle Point Borough Council, said: “This investment is a game changer and will ensure that people in Castle Point will feel safer with the knowledge that the Borough is protected by these new cameras, monitored 24/7. 

“Community safety is of vital importance for the Council and we will work closely with Essex Police to determine the most effective locations for them, including antisocial behaviour spots.” 

Another project to receive funding is CCTV installation, lighting improvements, diversionary activities and community projects Oakwood Hill housing estate in Debden. This project has received £167,500, supported by match funding from local partners, including Epping Forest District Council, of £141,000. 

Cllr Paul Keska, Portfolio holder for Regulatory, Technical & Community Safety Services at Epping Forest District Council, said: 

“We are thrilled to have secured this funding for the Oakwood Hill Estate Safer Streets Project. 

“This project presents great opportunities to enhance the community, promote a sense of ownership in the environment, and address safety concerns and anti-social behaviour. This cross-service initiative, supported by our own investment, marks a significant step forward for the Council as we work towards creating safer and more secure communities within the district.” 

The £1.5m Safer Streets funding can be split into two distinct areas, large scale infrastructure projects to improve community safety and smaller grants up £20,000 to fund community intervention projects helping people get help and support to stay out of criminal activity. 

ENDS 

Note: The 19 projects which have received funding are: 

• Castle Point – £1,041,534 for 64 new CCTV cameras and improved CCTV infrastructure (replacing analogue with digital cameras and installing new permanent cameras across the district). Sites include Roscommon Way, Woodside underpass on Rush Bottom Lane and Woodside Park. Supported by match funding of £183,207. 

• Epping Forest – £167,500 for CCTV installation, lighting improvements, diversionary activities and community projects Oakwood Hill housing estate in Debden which will be supported by match funding from local partners of £141,000. 

• Colchester – £38,925 for two accredited security officers to work in conjunction with the Community Safety team and Essex Police to patrol Colchester City Centre. Supported by match funding of £20,035 from local partners. 

• Basildon – £65,000 for a new building lease for 1-Up Collective to take on new premises within Basildon to increase delivery and expand the number of young people they can engage. Supported by match funding of £20,000 from local partners. Supported by £20,000 of match funding. 

• Braintree – Five additional CCTV cameras around the Halstead Community Fridge at The Causeway and two CCTV cameras at the Kings Road toilet block, next to Halstead Public Gardens. Supported by match funding of £3,000 from local partners. 

Community group bids 

• University of Essex – £20,000 for on-site drop-in support for women on campuses in Southend, Colchester, Epping Forest. 

• First Corringham Scout Group – £20,000 for improvements and works to local Scout Hall, 

• Southend Combat Academy – £20,000 for martial arts and boxing training and development of life skills. In addition, free training sessions for young people referred through local services. 

• Sanctus, Chelmsford, – £20,000 for Core funding for homeless charity – staffing and activities. 

• Team Kinetix, Colchester, – £19,972 for Sports for 10 – 16-year-olds. 

• CAB (Citizens Advice) Tendring – £19,594 for Mental health hub, employing mental health recovery workers. Equipment for new shop in Harwich. 

• The Change Project in Southend, Basildon, Rochford and Castlepoint – £19,499 for healthy relationships and consent programme. 

• U Turn 4 Support in Tendring / Clacton – £19,200 for a drop-in facility for youths in the night-time economy. 

• Open Road in Chelmsford – £19,000 for Funding towards the SOS Bus to operate on Friday nights. Costs include staffing and volunteer costs, fuel, insurance, and the wages of the on-board medic. 

• Essex Support for Schools Team of DWP – £17,660 for providing high-quality and impartial careers advice, specifically to help schools engage young people (aged 12-18) identified as being at risk of becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). 

• Wellbeing at Garon Park (Charity), Southend – £14,320 for Youth club expansion to increase capacity for approx. 80 children and young people, aged 8 – 15. Will include ad hoc holiday sessions and community events for young people. 

• Building Minds, Basildon – £10,240 Youth club – equipment and staffing 

• Upshire School, Waltham Abbey – £7,700 for The Upshire Community Train project will facilitate a community hub (in a donated train carriage at Upshire School) for all ages and will host Ninefileds Youth Club.  

• Ingatestone Parish Council and Fryerning Civil Parish – Additional lighting, utilising solar power technology to improve safety in the recreation ground footpath known as Fairfield in Ingatestone and a one-year pilot of an Ingatestone Street Warden.