Priti out on police patrol in Witham Town
Priti’s Police Patrol
The Safer Streets fund, an initiative Ms Patel started whilst she was Home Secretary, delivers funding to schemes to prevent violence against women and girls in public, tackle neighbourhood crime and help combat anti-social behaviour. Thanks to the funding provided through the scheme, Essex Police have been able to invest close to £300,000 in projects within Witham town to improve visibility in the area, enhance communal areas and signage and engagement with young people to reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour.
Ms Patel said: “The investment the Safer Streets Fund has brought to local communities like Witham has helped to bring down crime. In Witham we have seen new CCTV cameras erected to support the police when investigating crime and to provide reassurance and safety to local residents. The funding has also supported the creation of a Street Warden to serve as someone people know locally, is approachable and visible in the community. As the Home Secretary that established the Safer Streets Fund, it is good to see the practical work being delivered in Essex to keep our streets safe and our communities proud. I will continue to work with Roger and the police to make Witham and this part of Essex safer for residents and businesses.”
PFCC Roger Hirst said: “We are pleased to be here to view the improvements to the street landscape in Witham, showing us what valuable changes can be made to improve public safety in towns and cities in Essex. Safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build success, prosperity and well-being for all. Since 2016 all of us together have invested in making our communities safer and this partnership approach has worked – the very latest figures show crime in Essex is down 5.7 per cent year on year and anti-social behaviour is down 37 per cent.”