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Stockport Council has secured a share of a £2.4 million Home Office grant awarded to Greater Manchester local authorities to make communities safer across the city-region.
The Council, working with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has been awarded £436,810 from the Safer Streets Fund to support measures to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour focused on the town centre and Brinnington.
In the town centre, the Council will work with local businesses to help reduce retail crime through a new reporting pilot, building on work being supported by GMP and BID Company, Totally Stockport, and efforts to secure Purple Flag accreditation for the town centre.
Stockport Council will also work with residents to set up a community speed watch scheme. Work to tackle anti-social behaviour 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.
Cllr Helen Foster-Grime, Stockport Council’s 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.”
In total, Greater Manchester has received £2.4 million for the Safer Streets Fund, with GMCA backing bids by Wigan and Manchester councils, as well as Stockport. Manchester City Council, alongside TfGM, will use funds to improve safety on the Fallowfield Loop walking and cycling route, while Wigan Council will focus funds on CCTV, reducing unemployment and expanding its Safety of Woman at Night initiative.
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.”