Ruth Edwards MP went on the beat with the Rushcliffe Neighbourhood Policing Team in West Bridgford last week, to see how new Safer Streets Funding from the Government has been used to tackle crime.
Last year, Rushcliffe was granted £250,000 from the Government’s Safer Street Fund to tackle anti-social behaviour. Ruth was keen to see how this had impacted the area and helped to cut crime.
Ruth started the day by joining the Operation Reacher team, who tackle organised crime,on their morning patrol across Rushcliffe.
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After this, Ruth accompanied West Bridgford Beat Manager Matt Holden on a foot patrol along Central Avenue. During these patrols, she was shown the new automatic number plate recognition cameras that have been installed to help locate vehicles associated with rural crime such as theft and hare coursing.
Walking along Central Avenue, Ruth saw the new CCTV cameras and met two of the new wardens who are being funded with the Safer Streets grant.
These wardens support the police by patrolling busy areas and deterring criminal behaviour. They keep a constant visible presence on high streets and act as the eyes and ears of arresting officers when they are called away to process an offender.
Nottinghamshire has benefitted from significant Government investment in policing over recent years.
Besides the Safer Streets funding, the county has recruited over 418 new officers and in March was announced as a pilot area for measures to tackle anti-social behaviour.
This will give police new powers to tackle drug related crimes, increase fines for littering and graffiti, and mean that offenders must repair the damage caused to local communities within 48 hours of offences being committed.
Ruth said “I’m very grateful to Rushcliffe police for taking me out on their patrols today. It was great to hear about their experiences on the ground and everything that they do to keep us all safe in Rushcliffe.
“I was also pleased to see the positive impact that the Safer Streets funding has had in the area and meet some of the wonderful wardens that are supporting our police officers on patrol.
“The team in Rushcliffe have made huge progress in tacking both anti-social behaviour and rural crime and I look forward to continuing to support them.”
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