Safety measures for the district “will not stop” as District Council continues to combat anti-social behaviour

In February, work began at St Mary Magdalene Church Gardens in Newark to install new lighting and CCTV. The project aims to ensure the area is well-lit at night, making it safer and helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the area. The work will be finalised over the coming weeks and this project has been part-funded by the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

In addition, more than £1 million has been invested into the district through the Safer Streets project since 2021, funding security measures such as gating, lighting and CCTV cameras to help deter anti-social behaviour.

Balderton is the latest area in Newark to benefit from the funding and as part of Safer Streets 5 was allocated a share of £160,000 in the amongst £1 million of funding that was invested in Nottinghamshire.

The District Council is working in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police, Balderton Parish Council and Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver the project.

Investments have included the installation of a new youth shelter and community art projects, where local children help transform a graffiti hotspot area with bright and colourful artwork. The final project will take place in March.

Councillor Paul Taylor said: “We remain as focused as ever on creating a safer district in which residents and businesses feel secure and supported.

“Anti-social behaviour is already down by 18% and the work we are doing will not stop here. Residents can be assured that we know there is always more we can do, more improvements to be made, and we will continue to work with our community safety partners to combat crime.”

As part of its work to provide diversionary activities and educate younger generations on the serious real-life impacts of taking part in anti-social behaviour, the District Council is also funding the delivery of Prison Me, No Way workshops to secondary schools across the district.

Prison Me No Way is a registered charity, providing bespoke sessions into educational facilities, providing real life learning experiences for young people to raise awareness of consequences, risky decision making, and prevent them becoming involved in crime and antisocial behaviour.

The most recent workshops were delivered at the Magnus Church of England Academy and The Suthers School to Year 9 and 10 pupils and focused on choices. This was delivered by exploring how a decision you make can impact not only your life but those of your family and friends too. Students had the opportunity to meet some current serving prisoners and ask them questions, as well as see a to-scale prison cell.

“Speaking and interacting with the younger members of our communities is such an important part of our work in tackling anti-social behaviour and through initiatives such as the Prison Me, No Way schemes and the several diversionary activities we deliver, we can educate young people in a safe, fun and protected environment,” continued Councillor Taylor.

The District Council has also organised a range of diversionary activities through the OPCC Locality Funding including a series of cooking sessions which provide young people with the opportunity learn cooking skills as well budgeting and cost saving methods. These sessions bring young people to eat together, promoting healthy habits and conversations without distractions such as mobile phones. In addition, to help reduce incidents of youth related ASB and encouraging self-control and discipline the District Council has organised for schools to take part in local boxing sessions.

Other activities include DJ workshop sessions which encourage young people to learn new skills and to engage within the Young People’s Centres. The District Council’s anti-social behaviour team and Community Protection Officers have attended these sessions to talk positively with the young people, building that crucial relationship and rapport that will help tackle ASB in the area.

The District Council regularly works with partners to improve safety in Newark and is committed to a comprehensive and thorough programme of initiatives to reduce crime and ASB across the district.

The Council regularly works with the Police to investigate incidents of ASB, the latest of which is a spate of vandalism at the newly refurbished and upgraded Sherwood Avenue Play Park. Officers from both organisations are working together to identify the culprits and deter any future incidents.

Councillor Taylor continued: “When perpetrators commit mindless anti-social behaviour, like we’ve recently seen at Sherwood Avenue Play Park, we will investigate, leaving no stone unturned to demonstrate how we will simply not allow this in our district, and keep our number of incidents low.”

Plans for big CCTV improvements were also recently approved, with a new centralised control room set to be built to allow for better and more proactive prevention of crime in the district.