Northamptonshire secures Safer Streets funds to tackle crime

Mr Mold said he was "really pleased" to have been successful in "bringing more money to Northamptonshire"

Almost £650,000 will be spent on preventing crime in a county.

Northamptonshire's police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) Stephen Mold said his office made a successful bid to the government's Safer Streets fund.

The money will be used to tackle burglary, prevent vehicle crime at two motorway service stations and reduce violence against women and girls.

Mr Mold said he was "really pleased" to have been successful in "bringing more money to Northamptonshire".

In total, the PFCC said he had secured £646,570 from the government fund. It is the PFCC's sixth successful bid to the fund, which was launched four years ago.

'Local concerns'

The money from the latest application will be spent on improving fencing, lighting, CCTV and ANPR at Junction 15A and Watford Gap services on the M1.

Training will be provided to staff at bus and train hubs in the county to recognise when women are vulnerable and how to respond accordingly.

Equipment will also be installed to identify stolen property at police custody suites.

A scheme will also see taxi marshals in Northampton town centre.

All the proposals were developed based on crime rates in the areas and following consultation with residents and other stakeholders, the PFCC said.

"We will be working in partnership with other organisations and have listened to the concerns of local people in putting together a package of targeted measures to improve safety and tackle crime," said Mr Mold.

Work on all three projects will begin "as soon as possible", he added.