Customers of thousands of small shops in rundown communities are to benefit from £5.8 million to help shops improve security, Home Secretary David Blunkett announced today.
More than 5,400 shops across the country are set to receive money from the Security for Small Retailers scheme to pay for improved security measures such as burglar alarms, better locks and CCTV. It will also pay for environmental improvements to make shopping parades look better and feel safer.
This year's funding has enabled us to extend the number of shops helped to more than 12,500 over the life of the scheme.
Shops can be vital to the health of local communities and provide essential services. If they become vulnerable to crime they risk closing, putting the whole community on a downward spiral.
The Home Secretary announced the cash today as he visited shop keepers in St Leonards, Hastings, which thanks to money from a previous year's funding have turned their area around.
Mr Blunkett said:
"Strong communities are vital if we are to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. Small shops have a central role to play in this - they create jobs, boost the local economy, provide essential facilities, spur regeneration and increase local civic pride.
"But when shopkeepers and local people feel unsafe or businesses are targeted by criminals business declines and shops close, starting what can often be the beginning of a downward spiral for a neighbourhood. There are few sites as depressing as rows of boarded up and vandalised shops.
"The money I am announcing today will help shop-owners and shoppers feel more secure and ensure local retailers stay at the heart of their communities for everyone's benefit."
The Home Secretary reiterated the good progress the Government was making in fighting crime:
He said:
"Since 1997 the British Crime Survey shows that crime has fallen by 28 per cent. We have already delivered record police numbers to our streets - some 131,500 supported by over 1,300 community support officers - and more will follow. But we know more needs to be done. In particular, we are determined to tackle the scourge of anti-social behaviour which can blight some of our most vulnerable communities and ruin lives. That's why we published our anti-social behaviour White Paper and Bill.
"We are giving more powers to the police and local authorities to tackle those yobs, thugs and the inconsiderate minority who cause havoc in local communities. For example, environmental health officers will be able to remove stereos and televisions from noisy neighbours.
"The Home Office is working with other Government departments to regenerate communities and build better, safer neighbourhoods across Britain."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
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The money is the 2003/04 allocation of the £15 million Security for Small Retailers scheme which is funded by the Treasury's Capital Modernisation Fund. This is the final year of the scheme which covers England and Wales. Nearly 3,000 shops benefited from £2.8million in 2001/02, with 4,500 shops sharing £5.8 million in 2002/03.
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Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships work with regional Home Office directors to identify priorities in the 10 per cent most deprived wards across England and Wales.
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As previously announced, every region in England and Wales has a share of the fund as follows: Eastern Region - £393,475; East Midlands - £471,000; London - £908,542; North East - £496,000; North West - £942,205; South East - £493,580; South West - £389,578; Wales - £381,257; West Midlands - £666,182; Yorkshire and Humber - £655,882.
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A full breakdown of projects is attached.
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The Government's anti-social behaviour White Paper was published on 13 March, the Bill was published on 27 March.
SECURITY FOR SMALL RETAILERS: SPECIFIC SITES TO BENEFIT FROM YEAR THREE FUNDING (2003/04)
Name of Scheme Funding (£)
Eastern Region
Shedding Light on Retail Crime in Basildon 27,405
St Andrews Retail Project, Colchester 21,202
Wisbech North Ward, Fenland, Cambridgeshire* 21,202
Operation Shop Safe, Great Yarmouth 58,416
Safer Gaywood Project, Kings Lynn 33,607
Biscot and Dallow Small Retails Project, Luton 27,405
Kingsbrook Small Retailers Initiative, North Bedfordshire 21,202
Norwich SRDA 2003/04 (2 Schemes) 27,405
Peterborough Supports Small Retailers (3 sites) 33,607
Bedwell and Rockingham Way Shops, Stevenage 21,202
Clacton Small Shop Scheme 33,607
Thurrock Assisting Small Retailers 27,405
Britten Centre & Battery Green Multi-Storey Car Park Safety and Environment
Improvements Project, Waveney 39,810
393,475
East Midlands
Leicester Retail Crime Initiative 75,000
Nottingham Retail Crime Initiative 111,000
Bolsover Retail Crime Initiative 75,000
Bassetlaw Retail Crime Initiative 15,000
Derby Retail Crime Initiative 40,000
Mansfield Retail Crime Initiative 40,000
Erewash Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
Chesterfield Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
East Lindsay Retail Crime Initiative 45,000
Ashfield Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
Newark and Sherwood Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
West Lindsay Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
North East Derbyshire Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
South Kesteven Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
471,000
London
Gale Street Lighting, Barking and Dagenham 25,544
Brent Target Hardening Scheme 34,587
Camden Small Retailers Initiative 57,194
Retail Crime Reduction & Regeneration Project, Croydon* 16,501
Ealing Small Retailers Project 16,501
Enfield Small Retailers in deprived areas 30,065
Greenwich Small Retailers 57,194
Hackney Target Hardening Scheme 114,000
Hammersmith and Fulham CCTV Scheme 21,023
Haringey Target Hardening Scheme 52,672
Islington Radio Scheme 66,236
Kensington & Chelsea Small Retailers Scheme 21,023
Lambeth Small Retailers Project 25,544
Shop Security Radio Scheme, Lewisham 30,065
Newham Small Retailers Scheme* 115,971
Southwark Small Retailers 79,800
Tower Hamlets Shops Scheme 93,534
Waltham Forest Small Retailers Scheme 30,065
Westminster Small Retailer 03/04 21,023
£908,542
North East
Alnwick Small Retailers Scheme 10,000
Seahouses CCTV Scheme & Berwick upon Tweed Fraud
Prevention Scheme 10,000
Business Crime Reduction Project, Blyth Valley 20,000
Castle Morpeth CCTV Scheme* 10,000
Small Retailer Scheme, Gateshead 24,000
Newcastle City Retailers 35,000
North Tyneside Small Retailers Project 20,000
South Tyneside CCTV Scheme 35,000
Digital Camera Safe Project, Sunderland 35,000
Tynedale Small Retailers Scheme* 10,000
Retail Crime Initiative, Wansbeck 20,000
Small Retailers Initiative, Derwentside 20,000
City of Durham Small Retailers Crime Prevention Scheme 10,000
Sedgefield Shop Fronts 20,000
Creating Safer Shops in Chester West and Grange Villa,
Chester-le-Street 10,000
Small Retailers CCTV Scheme, Darlington 20,000
Billingham Shops Improvement Project, Stockton 35,000
Teesdale Safer Retailers 10,000
Wear Valley Safer Retailers Initiative* 24,000
Shop Watching, Easington 35,000
Whale Hill Shopping Centre, Eston, Redcar 24,000
Assisting Small Retailers, Middlesborough 35,000
Hartlepool CCTV 24,000
496,000
North West
Ellesmere Port and Neston Small Retailers Scheme 21,857
Warrington Security Fencing Scheme 14,743
Macclesfield Radio Equipment 10,000
Chester Radio Scheme and Improvements 14,743
Congleton CCTV Retailers Scheme 10,000
Halton Security Grants 33,713
Vale Royal Security Improvements 12,371
West Street Small Retailers Scheme, Crewe and Nantwich* 12,371
Eden/Carlisle Small Retailers Scheme 22,371
South Lakeland Small Retailers 03/04 10,000
Central Barrow Retailers 24,228
Shop Security Initiative 2003/04 Allerdale and Copeland Areas 41,342
Bury Retail Security Initiative 12,371
Mocha Parade, Broughton, Salford 15,000
Whittle Street, Salford 10,000
Individual Repeat Victims, Salford 6,342
Gorton Villa Shops, Manchester 37,000
Brunswick Street, Ardwick 37,026
Newport Street, Bolton 26,599
South Trafford Small Business Security 7,372
Canterbury Road, Trafford 7,371
Hyde (Godley) CCTV, Thameside 14,743
Rochdale Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Project 28,971
Oldham Small Retailers Scheme 26,599
Reddish District Centre, Stockport 12,371
Smithy Green CCTV System, Wigan 19,485
Burnley Small Retailer Scheme 19,485
Small Retailers in Deprived Areas, Pendle 26,599
Eaves Lane CCTV System, Chorley 10,000
Target Hardening/Takeaway Watch, Rossendale 10,000
Small Retailers in Ribble Valley 03/04 10,000
Royal Avenue Small Retailers Project, South Ribble 10,000
Inner Preston Retail Crime Initiative 24,228
Blackburn with Darwen Small Retailers Scheme 33,713
Small Retailers Loud and Clear, Hyndburn 19,485
Fylde Retail Crime Initiative 10,000
Blackpool Small Retailers Initiative 2003 (3 Projects) 26,599
Digmoor Parade, Skelmersdale 19,485
Operation Re-Glaze, Wyre 14,743
Target Hardening, Lancaster (2 projects) 17,114
Kennelwood Avenue Shops Security Project, Knowsley 27,620
Kirby Town Centre Radio Link, Knowsley 13,014
Old Farm Road Shops, Knowsley 12,050
St Helens Small Retailers Security Project 2003/04 26,599
Neighbourhood Shops CCTV Initiative, Sefton 28,971
Old Chester Road/Rock Lane West Retailers Safety Project, Wirral 12,114
Twickenham Drive Retailers Safety Project, Wirral 12,114
Liverpool CDRP (CitySafe) Scargreen Avenue Alleygate Project 15,000
Muirhead Avenue/Eaton Road North Security Project, Liverpool 15,283
Muirhead Avenue Alleygate Project, Liverpool 10,000
Breck Road Radio Link, Liverpool 16,000
Broadway Shopping Centre Radio Link, Liverpool 13,000
942,205
South East
Britwell and Others, Slough* 50,000
Blackbird Leys and Barton, Oxford* 150,000
Temple Hill, Dartford* 25,000
Westbrook Traders CCTV Scheme, Thanet* 70,000
Community Safety Improvements for Redbridge Retailers, 20,000
Southampton
The Botley Drive Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Havant20,000
Battle Road Business & Retail Security, Hastings 20,000
Kestrel Retailers Safety Project, Medway 20,000
Old High Street - Crime Reduction Initiative, Shepway 47,580
Central Whitehawk Shops, Brighton & Hove 20,000
Kingsley Road Post Office, Maidstone 6,000
Somerstown Retailers Initiative, Portsmouth 35,000
Buckland Retailers Initiative, Portsmouth 10,000
493,580
South West
Bristol Filwood Small Retailers Scheme* 64,770
Kerrier Small Retailers Scheme* 51,810
North Somerset Small Retailers 03/04* 25,906
Project 'Open All Hours', Plymouth 38,860
West Cornwall Community Safety Team Small Retailers 2003/04 38,860
Year 3 Penhill - Hannington Close Parade - Crime Reduction 36,000
Boscombe Traders Project, Bournemouth 16,790
Small Business Security Support Scheme, Gloucester 25,906
Community Retail Initiative - North Devon 03/04 25,906
Exeter Retail Crime Scheme (Fore Street) 12,954
Small Retailers Scheme for Weymouth and Portland –
Littlemoor Shopping Centre 12,954
Penwerris Small Retailers Initiative 2003/04, Carrick 12,954
Priorswood Place Security Improvements 2003/04, Taunton 12,954
Westward Ho! Small Retailers Initiative 12,954
389,578
Wales
Caernarfon Business Watch Scheme & Stryd Fawr, Deiniolen, 21,150
Caernarfon
Ceredigion Partnership Security Scheme 38,396.50
Ynys Mon Radio Shopwatch Scheme, Anglesey 20,000
Caerphilly Small Retailers Crime Reduction Project 11,000
Plas Madoc Shops and Roads, Wrexham 25,000
West Rhyl Retailer Group, Rhyl 20,000
Ebbw Fach Crime Reduction Partnership, Blaenau Gwent 15,000
Brecon CCTV Scheme, Powys 20,000
Blaenymaes Shopping Area, Swansea 25,000
Vale of Glamorgan Small Retailers 18,273
Cardiff Small Retailers Project 30,000
Pembrokeshire Small Retailers 38,537.50
Rhondda Cynon Taff Small Retailers Initiative 40,000
Safer Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre Retail Crime 15,000
Broughton CCTV Scheme, Flintshire 37,400
Neath Port Talbot Small Retailers 6,500
381,257
West Midlands
Broomhill, Cannock* 23,000
Dudley Safer Shopping * 75,000
Walsall Retail Crime Initiative* 70,000
Wolverhampton Neighbourhood Shop Watch * 120,000
Operation Neon, Birmingham 120,000
Camp Hill Retailers Phase 2, Nuneaton and Bedworth 35,000
Stanton Road Shopping Centre Security Improvement, Coventry 50,000
Severn Grove Regeneration Project, Wyre Forest 20,000
Brookside Safety Partnership, Telford and Wrekin 50,000
Hughes Avenue - Cross Heath Small Retailers Initiative,
Newcastle under Lyme 20,000
Sandwell Traders Association Retail Crime Initiative 50,000
Solihull Security Improvements 20,000
Congleton Road Shops 13,182
666,182
Yorkshire and Humber
Barnsley Business Crime* 72,927
Security for Shops , Bradford 72,927
Small Retailer Security Programme, Calderdale 24,309
Doncaster Small Retailers Schemes Phase 2* 89,133
Hull Small Retailers Scheme 81,030
Reducing Retail Crime and Disorder in Kirklees 24,309
Leeds Deprived Areas Modernisation Scheme* 56,721
Frodingham Road Radio Scheme, N Lincolnshire, 20,000
Scheme to Assist Small Retailers in Deprived Areas, N E Lincolnshire* 24,309
Safer Shops Rotherham 48,618
Eastfield High Street Crime Reduction, Scarborough* 20,054
Sheffield First for Safety Small Retailers RD 2, Sheffield 81,030
Wakefield Shopwatch Crime Prevention Initiative 40,515
655,882
*Funding already agreed in 2003/04 as a 2-year project
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