New funding will help reduce crime in Newcastle ward

Newcastle City Council and the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner’s office have received £431,967 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.

The funding will go towards a number of community safety measures in the Byker Ward, which has been found to be disproportionately affected by burglaries and other crimes compared to other parts of the city.

A range of partners, including the council, police, Your Homes Newcastle and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, will work together to:

• Deliver new and improved surveillance through CCTV systems to identify offenders and reassure residents
• Improve the look and feel of the area with graffiti cleaning, community litter picks and removal of bulky waste
• Provide crime prevention packs to residents offering advice and equipment for property marking, external lighting, locks and alarms
• Repair and replace damaged fencing
• Offer discounts to improve the standard and security of household doors
• Community interventions to work with residents to increase their sense of pride and ownership of their communities

Cllr Clare Penny-Evans, Newcastle City Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Public Safety, and Chair of Safe Newcastle, said: “we’re really pleased to have secured this funding and look forward to making a real difference for residents. 

“This is a much-loved part of the city with a strong sense of community spirit, but with crimes like residential burglaries and thefts being more prevalent here. We hope this funding will have a positive impact on crime rates in this area and help with our priority of creating safe neighbourhoods

“By working with partners and the community we’re determined to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, make a safer and brighter neighbourhood for people to live and work in, and create a lasting impact that allows people to feel safe and be proud about where they live.”

Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “This is great news for the area. I want Byker to be the very best it can be - a place where residents and families feel safe and secure where they live.

“This funding will help make a difference and support the work of our police in fighting crime in the area. If we focus our efforts on improving the lives of communities like this, we can prevent crime from happening too. The more funding and resources we secure to deliver on the priorities that matter to local people, the better.”

The Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund first launched in 2020 with £25million made available to Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales.

The funding award for Newcastle came from a second round of Home Office funding, while a third round of funding has also been announced.