A six-figure safety project boosting CCTV coverage across Melton and reducing the risk of crime has been completed ahead of schedule.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has been working with a team of local authority partners, Leicestershire Police and safety experts to reduce and prevent Neighbourhood Crime and Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) in Melton town centre.
The PCC secured funding from the Home Office's Safer Streets Fund in 2023 and invested around £250k in a raft of interventions to reduce the risk of people falling prey to crime and ASB in the town - all of which are now complete.
In toughening up household security, the project funded more than 600 units of CCTV equipment for residents which have already been successfully used to gather evidence for Closure Orders while no fewer than 188 free window and door alarms have been issued.
Twelve solar lamp posts have been installed at the local skatepark to address ASB in the evenings and to reduce risk.
Elsewhere, a new WCCTV Help Point System has been funded that enables a person in distress to instantly communicate with the force or local authority CCTV control room while three new CCTV cameras and four fly-tipping cameras have been funded to tackle environmental crime.
In addition, the partners delivered two youth intervention projects to divert young people away from crime in the town and funded the training and upskilling of council and police staff on tackling ASB issues.
Celebrating completion of the project, Mr Matthews said: "I'm extremely proud to reach this exciting milestone which is testament to the commitment and hard work of the entire Safer Streets 5 team.
"The technology and equipment funded through this project is allowing us to take robust and proactive action against the issues that matter most to our residents and already we are seeing positive results. Alongside increasing opportunities for enforcement and evidence-gathering, these interventions are also helping to increase feelings of safety and confidence which are vital for mental wellbeing and quality of life.
"Prevention is the overarching theme of my Police and Crime Plan and an approach I will continue to prioritise to deliver my ambition for safer and more prosperous communities. Through Safer Streets, we have shown the powerful impact of working together to solve problems and I have no doubt that the relationships we have fostered during the Safer Streets journey will continue to serve us well beyond the scope of this project. I am grateful to all those involved."
The improvements were implemented over an 18-month period between October 1 2023 and 31 March 2025 and have received praise by the community.
Picture Shows (L-R):
Charlie Charico - Deputy PCC, Sajan Devshi - OPCC Commissioning Team, David Walker - Melton Borough Council, Marie Delpech-Anthoine Melton Borough Council, Morgan Carter - OPCC Commissioning Team, Rahma Begum - OPCC Communications and Engagement Intern, Cllr Sharon Butcher - Melton Borough Council
