Following a successful bid for government funding, work has begun on making Folkestone town centre an even safer place for shopping and socialising.
The Safer Streets improvements include the purchase of five portable CCTV cameras that can be used in different locations when anti-social behaviour or crime issues are reported.
The funding has paid for more than 30 trauma packs, to help with the treatment of injuries prior to the arrival of an ambulance crew, which are being delivered to town centre venues. In addition, funding for a personal safety app has also been given to Home-Start Shepway to distribute to families.
The Safer Streets bid was made jointly by the district’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP), Kent Police and the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner and £271,351.60 was awarded by the Home Office to be spent over two years in Folkestone’s central ward.
As part of the project the volunteer Folkestone Town Sprucers have also received £5000 to support their continued work with the CSP in the town centre, supporting the community and making improvements to the local environment.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council has also worked closely with both Home-Start and domestic violence charity, Rising Sun to organise training sessions aimed at preventing violence against women and girls. Online Bystander training is also being offered to members of the public.
Cllr Mike Blakemore, Cabinet Member for Community and Collaboration, said: “The Safer Streets funding is being used to help make Folkestone’s town centre one that can be enjoyed by everyone, particularly in the evenings.
“The project has also had the benefit of bringing groups together to work under the Safer Streets umbrella, creating partnerships that will bring benefits beyond the two years of this initiative.”
Detective Inspector James Wyles of Folkestone Community Safety Unit said: “Experience shows that the best way to make the town centre a safe space for local people is for all members of the Community Safety Partnership to work together.
“The schemes made possible by this funding are already helping to discourage crime and anti-social behaviour, with enhanced CCTV monitoring helping us to respond and investigate more effectively when offences do take place.
“The emergency trauma packs will ensure people get the best possible medical help when needed and the funding for environmental improvement will make the area cleaner and safer, for everyone to enjoy.”
Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner said, “I’m delighted such progress has been made by the Safer Streets Partnership in Folkestone. I’ve seen how similar schemes in Kent have improved environments and made residents feel safer and more valued, not just at day but after dark too. I know this investment will make a difference to people living in the area.”
Jon O’Connor from The Town Sprucer project said: “It’s been great to build closer working relationships through the Safer Streets programme and to be involved with others in practical work that makes a real difference.”
Visit www.saferstreetsfolkestone.co.uk for more information about the Safer Streets project.