Safer Streets project reaches successful conclusion

A project which aimed to create ‘Safer Streets’ in a Hatfield neighbourhood has resulted in a 12 per cent drop in reports of anti-social behaviour.

The Safer Streets project was a multi-agency initiative that aimed to reduce reports of vehicle crime, county line drug dealing, criminal damage and associated anti-social behaviour in hotspot areas in Hatfield*.

A variety of local partners were involved including the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council and housing providers.

The project, which has now reached its final conclusion, resulted in the following:

• A 12 per cent reduction in the number of reports about anti-social behaviour
• Over a thousand hours of extra police patrols as part of Operation Oarlock
• Upgraded CCTV cameras
• Environmental improvements – vegetation cut back on the footpath that runs between Goldings House and Link Drive and the main footpaths and alleyways that act as cut throughs nearby
• SAS Ultimate Garage Defenders provided to households that own scooters/motorbikes and a garage in hotspot locations
• Educational workshops about the dangers of gang involvement and the signs of drug exploitation
• Arrests in connection with theft and drugs
• New street lighting

The good news coincides with Neighbourhood Policing Week, which celebrates the work of neighbourhood police teams. Officers from the Welwyn Hatfield Neighbourhood Policing Team played a key role in delivering the project by carrying out patrols, making arrests and reassuring locals residents.

Welwyn Hatfield Chief Inspector Pete Frost said: “We’re delighted with the results of the project and I hope that residents are pleased with the impact that the project has had.

“While the project may have reached its conclusion, we will not be complacent and residents can still expect to see officers out and about. The garage defenders proved especially popular with residents so we have plans to deliver more next month.

“I would like to thank all the partners who made this project such a success and of course all the residents who helped play their part by reporting concerns, taking on board our crime prevention advice and signing up to our community messaging platform Herts Connected to keep updated with the project.”

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner, said: “My office secured Home Office funding for this Safer Streets project, so it’s fantastic to see that it has delivered such positive results.

“It has successfully reduced anti-social behaviour, and the enhanced CCTV makes the area safer for everyone—particularly women and girls. I fully support these joint partnership initiatives, which play a vital role in driving down crime in our neighbourhoods.”

Councillor Sandreni Bonfante, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Executive Member for Environment said: “We’re proud to have played a role in this successful partnership, and it’s encouraging to see a noticeable reduction in anti-social behaviour as a result. Creating safer, more welcoming communities remains a top priority for us, and we’ll continue to support initiatives that make a lasting difference across the borough.”

Darren Cook, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Everyone has their part to play when it comes to making our county the best place to live and I have been really pleased to see the positive impact that this project has had across Hatfield, with so many partners from across the public sector uniting to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour while making sure residents and businesses have the prevention advice that suits their needs.”

Join Hertfordshire Constabulary’s community messaging platform Herts Connected and select ‘police’ when you sign up to receive free local messages.  You can also choose to hear from other agencies. 

*The project focused 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 on the saferstreets webpage.