Cash Secured To Make Women & Girls Feel Safer In Parks

Improvements are set to be carried out in two parks across Harborough in a bid to make women and girls feel safer.

New CCTV and improved lighting are among measures to be considered for Welland Park in Market Harborough and Warwick Park in Kibworth.

It is after Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews secured funding of £550,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund to make improvements at 18 parks across the county.

The cash also fund work to increase visibility and reduce seclusion in the parks, through the cutting back of undergrowth and foliage and the launch of a new safety campaign.

Mr Matthews said: “Women and girls have a right to feel safe everywhere – at home, online and in our public spaces.

“This funding will enable us to make immediate changes to improve personal safety and reduce the opportunity for crime and violence while giving women greater confidence to walk without fear.

“We have listened very carefully to local women to understand where they feel most vulnerable and at risk. For this reason, this project will deliver extensive CCTV provision and additional lighting across our parks to increase visibility and address areas of seclusion.

“We presented a compelling case for this additional funding and I am delighted the Home Office has endorsed our plans with the maximum award available of £550k.”