Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold has been awarded £1.375m by the Home Office to fund crime fighting projects in Wellingborough, Kettering and Northampton.

At the beginning of 2020, the Home Office launched the Safer Streets Scheme, with funding available for Police and Crime Commissioners to bid against. This grant stream was set up to support initiatives to tackle crime in areas particularly affected by acquisitive crime such as burglary, vehicle crime and robbery.

The funding is intended to go towards measures that are proven to cut crime, including changes to the street scene such as locked alley gates and better lighting, and the installation of CCTV.

The Commissioner made bids to fund three projects in Northamptonshire and all three were successful.

The successful bids are:

• £540,000 to implement a range of security improvements on the Victoria and Isebrook wards in Wellingborough. This will include the proposed installation of security gates on a number of alleyways behind homes. Alley gating is proven to reduce burglary by more than 40%, as well as reducing fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. The project also includes providing crime prevention surveys and free crime prevention measures to residents in the wider area

• £280,000 to support the extension of town centre CCTV in Kettering as well as the proposal to install a small number of secure alley gates

• £450,000 to fund projects to create safer parking and other environmental improvements – including improved lighting – to enhance safety and security in the Portland Place, Bouverie estate and surrounding areas of Northampton

These three areas were chosen because they have levels of acquisitive crime that are higher than average for the county.

Work on all three projects, which will be carried out with partners including Northamptonshire Police and the three local authorities, will begin as soon as possible.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold, said: “I am delighted to have been successful in winning this extra funding to help support crime fighting projects in Northamptonshire.

“My vision is to do everything I can to make this county a safer place and the financial support from the Home Office will have an enormous impact on the physical improvements that can be made to improve security in these three areas.  There will be full involvement and consultation with local communities where necessary, as we work alongside the local authorities to carry out these projects.

“I have been working with the Chief Constable on investment plans in a number of different sectors of work and this funding boost from the Home Office is a very welcome addition to what we have planned. I look forward to being able to make further announcements as soon as this work gets underway.”