New
grants could cover costs of CCTV and improved lighting
Home Office Minister, Hazel Blears, today announced funding for ‘Operation
Gate-it', the anti-social behaviour fund from which communities can apply
for funding to tackle anti-social behaviour and environmental crime in
alleyways.
As
part of the Government's TOGETHER campaign aimed at tackling anti-social
behaviour, this operation will include new legislation in the Anti Social
Behaviour Act and a nationwide Action Plan, and is backed by £75million
of Government funding.
Local MP Ann Keen welcomed this announcement saying, "This is good
news. I will be contacting community groups in the constituency to encourage
them to bid for funds. This new fund will give local communities the opportunity
to bid for lighting, landscaping or CCTV funding as well as alley gates.
£2.3million funding will be available for the two years of the project."
"This money can be used to close eyesore alleys, pay for lighting,
CCTV and landscaping to improve an area and increase security."
Launching Operation Gate-it, Ms Blears said, "Litter, graffiti and
abandoned cars can have a huge impact on people's fear of crime and destroys
community pride. Yobs who race down alleys on motorbikes or hang about
in rowdy threatening groups can cause real problems for communities.
"By putting a gate at the end of an alley we can simply and quickly
stop many of the problems and by improving the area through landscaping
a sense of community can be fostered.
"Tackling low-level anti-social behaviour which has a real impact
on people's quality of life is vital if residents are to have the confidence
to stand-up to the minority who are ruining the lives of the law-abiding
majority.
"The Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and
we have brought in tough new laws backed by an action plan and funding
to support communities and frontline staff to deal with yob behaviour
wherever it occurs.”
March 6, 2004
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