Safer Streets Funding

25.7.22

PCC secures more than £1.4 million to improve safety in Kent and Medway towns

The Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, has successfully bid for additional funds to make the streets of some Kent and Medway towns feel safer.  

The funding is part of the Home Office Safer Streets Initiative and Matthew Scott’s office will receive just over £1.4 million to improve parts of Canterbury, Gravesham, Maidstone and areas around Chatham and Rochester in Medway.

It follows successful schemes in Gillingham, Ashford, Ramsgate, Canterbury and Chatham and Rochester and will involve colleagues from local community safety partnerships, like the police, the local councils and charitable groups.   

Previous schemes have seen tonnes of fly-tipping removed, graffiti cleaned up, improved lighting as well as the creation of “Safe Spaces”, where people who feel threatened or vulnerable can go to seek assistance.   Active bystander training has been provided, informing people how to act should they see an incident.   Personal safety and crime prevention kits have also been handed out at engagement events across these towns.

This latest money will break down as follows:

Canterbury will receive £589,042 for improvements to the Dane John Gardens area, the town centre and main routes into town. The universities are going to be able to extend their Safe Zone App to enable more people to use it. The Street Pastor scheme will be expanded and safe havens will be set up.

Gravesham will receive £74,942.14 for safety improvements around the town centre, which will include more CCTV and better lighting, as well as the introduction of Safe Spaces.

Maidstone will receive £565,877 for safety improvements around the town centre and Brenchley Gardens district.  This will include more outreach workers, self-defence classes for women and an expansion of the Best Bar None scheme for licensed premises, which promotes good practice and improved customer safety.

Medway’s Rochester and Chatham and Luton districts will receive £203,230 to continue some of the work undertaken through Safer Streets projects, including more youth diversionary work, inclusive sports events and more active bystander training.

Matthew Scott said, 

“I’m absolutely delighted we have secured this funding. I’ve seen the difference previous Safer Streets Programmes and have made to our communities and I’m thrilled we can expand that good work across Kent and Medway.  From new Safe Spaces to improved lighting and CCTV, we want to make our town centres feel safe for everyone. I would like to thank all our partners for working so hard on this and I look forward to seeing the results over the next 18 months.”