Businesses and residents have welcomed the securing of funds to help with their town's "massive crime problem". The £100,000 funding to Ashfield District Council, raised through the government's Safer Streets Fund, will also look at tackling crime and antisocial behaviour in Hucknall town centre, with one business owner saying that the town faces "trouble all the time".
The initiative focuses on addressing concerns relating to women's and girls' safety, violence, shop thefts and the perception of crime in public spaces. As part of the scheme, Hucknall businesses could benefit from HD CCTV installation, improved lighting, along with full training for staff and relevant signs.
The scheme will offer business owners extra security at their premises. Some residents and businesses have welcomed the potential additions.
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Louise Beeson, who owns The Sweet Cafe in Hucknall town centre, said: "There is a massive, massive problem with crime in Hucknall. The bigger shops, like B&M and Wilko, get thefts and trouble all the time.
"We had sweets nicked and even toilet paper before! I think the town definitely needs it - there's loads of trouble.
"Just the other week there were five or six police cars up the road outside Wilko. I think some windows had been smashed in.
"A lot of it is to do with drugs I think, that's one of the bigger problems we've got here. We've got our own CCTV and cameras but it's good that the council is making some changes.
"We've got a massive problem with crime."
Michelle Barton, 68, who lives nearby, said: "Oh there's a lot that needs fixing, to be honest. I do love it around here, and I've not seen a lot of crime, but I do hear about it a lot.
"I'm not really out too late and if there are thefts in shops and things like that it's going to happen at night. It's horrible for the people running these shops.
"I had heard about some trouble at the B&M store recently - I think it happens around there quite a bit. As I say I haven't seen much but I think there's definitely a problem with crime in Hucknall and we could do with some new measures."
Other initiatives planned by the council will see an innovative voice activated safe point camera being fitted in Hucknall town centre. The safe point camera will be installed alongside 3 New Ultra High definition CCTV Devices to the Hucknall area over the coming months to help deter and detect criminality and anti-social behaviour alongside gating of alleyways.
Jonathan Severn, who runs Lawrence Severn & Son LTD, also welcomes changes but states that crime in Hucknall is not worse than any other town in the country. He does not want to dissuade people from coming to Hucknall.
He added: "I think you need to tread carefully when talking about crime. You don't want to stop people from coming into Hucknall.
"I think there are problems with crime in Hucknall but I think it's not any bigger than in any other town. There are more positives than negatives about the area.
"You've got about one percent of people committing these crimes where most of the time the other 90 percent are fine. Really we've got a good community with loyal customers and an overall safe space.
"There are problems all over and we're no different from any other town in the country. But I'm all for new measures if they are a deterrent for people thinking about committing crimes."
Councillor John Wilmott, who represents Hucknall North on Ashfield District Council said: "As a council, we are determined to do our bit to tackle crime and the perception of it in Hucknall. These community safety interventions will provide added reassurance to the Hucknall community, and support residents and businesses.
"They are just some of many measures Ashfield District Council are taking to make Hucknall’s streets safer.
“This is absolutely fantastic news for the residents of Hucknall. We know how valuable these schemes have been. We have the chance to improve safety and deter crime and anti-social behaviour through creative projects and the use of CCTV technology.”
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