Safer Streets project continues with footpath improvements

Residents in the Link Drive area of Hatfield will notice clearer footpaths as more environmental improvements have been made as part of the Safer Streets project.

Safer Streets is a multi-agency initiative that aims to reduce reports of vehicle crime, county line drug dealing, criminal damage and associated anti-social behaviour. It focuses on hotspot areas in Hatfield* and measures include upgraded CCTV along with regular patrols (Operation Oarlock).

Residents in the Link Drive area of Hatfield will notice clearer footpaths as more environmental improvements have been made as part of the Safer Streets project.

Safer Streets is a multi-agency initiative that aims to reduce reports of vehicle crime, county line drug dealing, criminal damage and associated anti-social behaviour. It focuses on hotspot areas in Hatfield* and measures include upgraded CCTV along with regular patrols (Operation Oarlock).

A key part of the project includes environmental improvements to help residents feel safer when walking through the alleyways in the area.

Vegetation was cut back between Goldings House and Link Drive over the summer along with the other connecting alleyways.

Ahead of the winter months, more vegetation has now been removed. The cut-back will make the paths safer to navigate and increase the visibility aided by street lighting.

The vegetation removal, funded by the Safer Streets project, has been carried out by Ringway Infrastructure Services, on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council.

Welwyn Hatfield Chief Inspector Pete Frost said: “The removal of the vegetation has made a notable difference to visibility in the area. The alleyways are now brighter and much easier to navigate.

“We hope that residents feel reassured by this update, especially now that the clocks have gone back and the evenings are darker.

“Officers are also still carrying out patrols in the area as part of Operation Oarlock and I am pleased to say that we are no longer seeing the levels of crime that we did at the start of our patrols.

“As always, please do continue to get in contact with any concerns so that we can take action. You can also speak anonymously to Crimestoppers who will pass the information to us without identifying you.”

Join our community messaging platform Herts Connected at hertsconnected.co.uk and select ‘police’ when you sign up to receive free local messages.  You can also choose to hear from other agencies. 

You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

*The project focuses on Goldings House, Goldings Crescent, Link Close, Wood Close, Wood Vale, Deerswood Avenue, Northdown Road, Garden Avenue, Roe Green Lane and St Albans Road West. Find out more at herts.police.uk/saferstreets