Safer Streets - East Herts

Funding has been successfully secured under the Government’s Safer Streets programme to address concerns around the weekend night-time economy in Hertford, such as drug use and violence against women and girls.

Match funding has also been provided by local partners.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is working alongside East Herts Council and Hertford Town Council to deliver the project over an 18-month period. Local businesses are also being encouraged to get involved.

The project supports our Prevention First policing model, and the wider countywide work being done to tackle violence against women and girls in Hertfordshire.

What does the Safer Streets project entail?

The funding will be used to provide:

• Additional police patrols
• Specialist training
• Upgrades to local CCTV systems and street lighting
• Additional ANPR cameras

How is the project being delivered?

The project comprises several strands:

Project Vigilant

Project Vigilant is designed to protect men and women from those displaying predatory behaviour.

It is a perpetrator focused initiative, looking at identifying such behaviour and preventing offences from taking place.

Several officers have received specialist training and will be conducting regular plain-clothed deployments during the night-time economy.

Bystander training

Those who work within the night-time economy are being offered the chance to undertake specialist training in conjunction with Safer Places as part of the project.

The training will raise awareness of the threats that may exist but are not necessarily obvious to the untrained eye, and the appropriate action to take if these behaviours are identified.

Licensing SAVI

Bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants are being encouraged to sign up to the Licensing SAVI scheme – a self-assessment tool designed to help licensed premises provide a safer and more secure environment for their managers, staff, customers and local communities.

It provides advice and guidance around topics such as drugs misuse, safeguarding vulnerable customers and preventing violent behaviour, including violence against women and girls.

Have your say

To help effectively deliver and measure the success of the project we’re seeking views from members of the public. You can have your say by completing this short survey.

The East Herts Community Safety Partnership consists of local organisations including East Herts Council, police, fire, education providers and justice services, who work to keep East Herts a safe place to live, work and visit.

If you have any questions relating to the work of the partnership, you can contact them by email.