Stockport wins share of £2.4 million government grant to build safer streets

Stockport has been awarded a share of £2.4million to tackle anti-social behaviour and make streets safer for residents in the town centre and Brinnington.

The Safer Streets Fund, launched by the Home Office, aims to tackle issues that blight communities by putting measures in place to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and support victims.

In Greater Manchester, Stockport, Wigan and Manchester have all been awarded funding totalling £2.4million, following successful bids supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

In Stockport, the council, working with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has been awarded £436,810 which will be used to help tackle anti-social behaviour in Stockport Town Centre and Brinnington.

This will include detached youth workers, delivering mentoring to young people involved in anti-social behaviour and criminality, investment in community, sport and other diversionary activities, and specialist support for vulnerable victims of anti-social behaviour.

Stockport Council will also work with residents to set up a community speed watch scheme and work with local businesses to help reduce retail crime through a crime reporting pilot.

Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “The Safer Streets scheme focuses on bringing about improvements for local communities and this project in the town centre and Brinnington is aimed at improving the quality of life for people in our communities.

“Safeguarding our residents is a key priority for the council and this grant and the activities planned with it, will help make residents feel as safe as possible in their own neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.”

Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes said: “I’m pleased that Greater Manchester will receive more than £2.4 million from the Safer Streets Fund, which will be invested in tackling the issues that local people have told us are blighting their communities and making them feel unsafe.

“This is the fourth round of funding which has seen more than £4.2 million invested in Safer Streets initiatives across Greater Manchester since August 2020. This additional funding will allow us to build on this work in other parts of the city-region to deliver activity to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and work with local people to strengthen neighbourhoods and keep them safe.”