South Yorkshire is set to receive £993,311 from the latest round of the government’s Safer Streets Fund, with the aim of reducing crime and antisocial behaviour across the county.
Started in July 2022, The Safer Streets Fund was established by then Home Secretary Priti Patel as a way to help police forces and local authorities tackle antisocial behaviour, neighbourhood crime and violence against women and girls.
The money will be spent on improving lighting, CCTV and general community safety, as well as two targeted campaigns focussing on ending violence against women and girls, with involvement from Crimestoppers and South Yorkshire Police.
South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings said: “I welcome the Home Office funding announcement and thank my team for their hard work in securing the grant.
“The money awarded to South Yorkshire will build on improvements already seen in previous rounds of Safer Streets funding and aims to expand the safety and security in those areas that local residents have most concern.”
In Sheffield, the grant will see CCTV cameras installed on London Road, Abbeydale Road and the surrounding streets as well as a violence against women and girls educational programme focussed on changing attitudes and behaviours exhibited by young men.
Doncaster will benefit from improvements to streetlighting in Scawsby to reduce antisocial behaviour, solar powered lighting for footpaths on Wadworth Green, strategic CCTV installation across the borough and a Youth Association Outreach Project.
A portion of the funds will be spent in Rotherham on targeted crime prevention advice and improved home security measures as well as positive outreach activity aimed towards young people.
Barnsley will also see CCTV cameras fitted on routes from the town centre to hospital as well as in Goldthorpe and Measborough Dike alsonside improved streetlighting and outreach and partnership work.
The improvements are set to be implemented from now to March 2025, and will be welcomed by women and girls across the region, many of whom feel unsafe, especially when once the sun has set.
Hannah Hudson, 20, who lives in Sheffield, said: “More lighting and CCTV would definitely make me feel safer, especially when walking alone.
“It would make the streets less daunting and would give me reassurance, knowing there were cameras there.”
Another young woman living in Sheffield, Zoe Ingeldew, added: “When walking alone in the city in the dark, I don’t feel very safe.
“I wouldn’t choose to walk alone in the dark unless I really needed to, but lighting would probably help as it brings an element of safety.”
If you need to report antisocial behavior, or to access support and educational resources, you can visit https://southyorks.police.uk/find-out/crime-prevention-advice/asb/.