Over £300,000 Safer Streets Funding for West Yorkshire

8th June 2021

A partnership bid to reduce motor vehicle crime along the West Yorkshire M62 corridor has received the backing of £306,317.

The money will be used to reduce the opportunity for motor vehicle crime by improving street lighting and installing and utilising CCTV and ANPR cameras. 

The funding will also be used for increased engagement and education around vehicle safety throughout the region as well as engaging with Scrap Metal Dealers.

West Yorkshire have received the grant from the Safer Streets Fund, run by the Home Office following a bid which was collated by the former Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire, now transferred to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire Police, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield Councils.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I’m really pleased that this partnership funding bid to tackle vehicle crime across the county has been secured for West Yorkshire. I’m excited to see the project progress and deliver lasting positive change to prevent crime.”

Chief Constable John Robins QPM, said: “We are delighted that we have once again been successful in gaining Safer Streets funding. This money will help further progress the work already underway to tackle vehicle crime across the county. We have been really keen to focus on prevention and deterrence by putting in measures to create a more difficult environment for criminals to operate in.  The more we can do that, the fewer victims of crime there will be. Measures such as improved street lighting and CCTV not only impact on crime, but also create a greater sense of safety in our communities.”

Cllr Jenny Lynn, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said: “Vehicle crime is a key concern for our local communities, and we continue to tackle this together with other organisations as part of the Calderdale Community Safety Partnership. We welcome this additional funding as it will strengthen our existing approach.”

Cllr Carole Pattison, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet Member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities, said: “This funding is extremely welcome as it will further enhance the work we are doing here in Kirkees to prevent crime and specifically motor vehicle crime. I want all residents and anyone who visits Kirklees to feel safe and be safe, this funding will help significantly towards achieving that.”

Cllr Matthew Morley, Cabinet Member for Planning and Highways at Wakefield Council, said: “We welcome this funding which will support partners to work together to reduce vehicle crime and make the streets safer in West Yorkshire.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “The third round of the Safer Streets fund has now opened for applications with a primary focus on helping make women and girls feel safer on the streets. This absolutely aligns to one of my core pledges to you, to put women and girls at the heart of my policing plan, so I will now be working with partners to put forward a strong case for further funding in our region.”