It has been announced that Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has been awarded a total of £1.5 million from the Home Office under the latest round of Safer Streets funding.
Two applications, with a range of innovative solutions to tackle anti-social behaviour, were submitted by PCC Bourne in conjunction with partners. Both bids were successful thanks to the effective demonstration of need in areas throughout Sussex and an appropriate response proposal to addressing these issues.
PCC Katy Bourne says: “This is marvellous news for Sussex. Tackling neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls are top priorities for residents, Sussex Police and our partners.
“The main thrust of our two bids was to provide dedicated resources to tackle anti-social behaviour and violence, particularly against women and girls. We have responded to community concerns which I hear about through my regular focus groups and online consultations.
“I am absolutely delighted that we can now embark on another round of ground-breaking work, building on what was started with earlier Safer Streets funding for our county.
“These new projects will include a blend of education and engagement as well as robust proactive work. The initiatives will be run with a range of partners throughout Sussex, including local businesses and schools.
“There is a strong focus on town centre spaces where people feel most vulnerable and where much of the reported anti-social behaviour takes place. Importantly, the impact of the new projects should become immediately visible in the night time economy where it’s vital for residents, workers and visitors to feel safe and protected.
“Overall this is great news for our county. I look forward to working with our partners to achieve these objectives over the next year, helping to make Sussex communities even safer.”
Supporting information
The £1.5m Safer Streets funding for Sussex allows for a Task Force Manager and Project Officer to work in communities to develop local solutions and ownership. This complements the existing work of Community Safety Partnerships (funded by the PCC), the Safer Sussex Business Partnership and key working groups within Sussex Police.
The task team will also host a range of engagement events through the coming 12 months to provide an opportunity for community feedback.
The bids combine various initiatives, some countywide and others more localised. These include:
