New CCTV cameras and the expansion of a free home security scheme have been given the go-ahead as part of a project to make Mansfield safer.

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry, working with Nottinghamshire Police, Mansfield district and Nottinghamshire county councils, has been granted an additional £50,000 from the Home Office to extend the original Safer Streets 2 project in the town to help cut street crime.

It comes after police figures for resident burglary offences in Mansfield in the six months to October 2021 showed an annual reduction of 47.5 per cent – the lowest ever number for the same period.

The new funding, which comes on top of £432,000 secured for the scheme last summer, will deliver two new fixed CCTV cameras in the town — one on Welbeck Street and another on Newcastle Street. The areas have previously been highlighted as having a higher-risk of crime and the presence of the cameras will help provide police with evidence to detect offenders.

The bulk of the grant (£35,000) will be used to expand a free home security offer to residents living in one of the Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) of the town — areas that have also been identified as having a disproportionately higher risk of crime.

The scheme is already funding new CCTV cameras in Wood Street/Rosemary Street (two cameras), Chesterfield Road South (one camera), Queen Street (one camera), Dame Flogan Street and Midworth Street (two cameras).
Meanwhile, 120 householders have been offered a free security upgrade so far. This may have included the installation of five level door locks, window alarms, sensor lighting, toughened windows/doors, secure side gates and sensor-activated EIFI or 4G CCTV. The extra money will enable a further 46 properties to receive security packages before 31st March.

Commenting on the extra funding, Commissioner Henry said: “I am delighted the Home Office has granted us this extra funding to expand the Safer Streets scheme in Mansfield and make the town even safer.

“Burglary rates are already down by almost half, which is a fantastic improvement and means fewer residents have suffered the distress of becoming a victim of crime. People feel safer and are less worried about being targeted.

“The swift and successful roll out of this initiative has been vital to securing this extra funding and I would like to thank Mansfield’s local Burglary Reduction Officer, Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Megan Tuffley, from Nottinghamshire Police, in particular, for her hard work and dedication in carrying out home risk assessments and engaging with residents.”

Coun Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for safer communities, housing and wellbeing at Mansfield District Council, said: “This is more good news for residents in Mansfield as investment is available to make the town a safer place to live, work and visit.”

Coun Ben Bradley, MP and leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, added: “This additional investment is reassuring, and I know from my conversations with local Police Officers that they believe the extra technology and infrastructure it funds can make a real difference to local people.”

Inspector Nick Butler, district commander for Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Safer Streets funding is all about designing out crime, or — to put it another way ­— making life as difficult as possible for the people who routinely commit offences in our community. It is already having a very significant impact in the town.

“I am particularly pleased with the work we have done with former burglary victims and their neighbours to pre-emptively improve their home security.”