£200,000 secured to fund Safer Streets in St Helens Borough

Article date: 21 December 2023

The council's successful bid into the fifth round of the Government's Safer Streets Fund was supported by PCC Emily Spurrell.

The funding will be used to increase the safety of women and girls as they visit the night time economy and travel at night, particularly around taxi ranks. Training will also be provided to people working in the night time economy to support employees to provide safer locations for women and girls. 

The safe transport home project will see improved lighting installed at taxi ranks, with wardens operating at key times. As part of the initiative, the council will also offer a grant programme to support  taxis to install CCTV to increase feelings of safety among women and girls.

All of the projects developed have been informed by the work of the St Helens Night Time Economy Forum - with representatives from the council and across the sector working together with partners including Merseyside Police during 2023 to improve the offer and safety in St Helens town centre. 

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: "I'm really pleased that this successful bid means we can invest in these projects focused on preventing crime and improving safety in three key locations. 

"I've seen for myself the challenges facing residents and the misery caused by crime and anti-social behaviour in these areas and this major cash boost has the power to make a real difference.

"Through Safer Streets, we've already delivered a lot of work to improve the safety of women and girls, particularly at night, and I'm pleased we can continue this work with funding focused on ensuring the safety of women who visit St Helens town centre for a night out. 

"Everybody has a right to feel safe where they live and work. We've seen the success previous Safer Streets projects have had in other parts of Merseyside, so I'm really positive that this funding means we can change things for the better in St Helens too."

Councillor Mancyia Uddin, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: "This funding will help to further enhance and support our night time economy in St Helens town centre, which has already been recognised for its exemplary  offer through the success of maintaining our Purple Flag status again this year, which recognises the social and economic importance that this sector brings to the borough as a whole.

"It is really welcome too in supporting women to stay safe by providing secure spaces and routes home, improving the night time experience for women, and I would like to thank both the PCC and all Night Time Economy Forum members for their support."