A series of measures will be introduced to make the streets of Rhondda Cynon Taf safer for women and girls thanks to a successful bid for funding by the South Wales Police & Crime Commissioner, Alun Michael.
The Commissioner and his team have worked with RCT Council, the local police team and other key statutory and third sector partners to win £457,543 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets fund which has a current focus on matters of concern to women and girls.
Following comprehensive analysis of victim data, community intelligence and feedback from the public and partners, the money will be spent in four priority areas in Rhondda Cynon Taf, to improve the safety of women and girls. It will deliver a number of physical measures, including additional fixed and re-deployable CCTV, enhanced lighting and safety improvements to the environment, in:
- Pontypridd Town Centre
- Beddau Park
- Ynys Bridge Aberdare
- Cae Fardre Estate
Physical changes will be supplemented by key support and education in the local communities, focused upon healthy relationships, stalking, harassment and self-defence, as well as providing safe spaces for young people.
South Wales Police & Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: “I am very pleased that we have been successful in our latest bid to the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund; the allocation of £457,543 is an endorsement of the way we have worked with the Council and others in effectively identifying the drivers of local problems and how best too work together to tackle them.
“This money will be invested in making the streets of Rhondda Cynon Taf safer for on women and girls, enabling us to respond to the general public concern in which there has never been a clearer focus. Preventing violence against women and girls has been a key priority for me as Commissioner from the start but while we have done a lot to tackle the issue in South Wales these are difficult inter-generational issues and there’s always more we can do if we are to significantly to reduce the intimidation and harassment experienced by women and girls across the land.
“Working in partnership our focus is both on immediate benefits from practical measures like CCTV and physical improvements to the environment and to achieve sustainable long-term improvements in the safety and confidence of women and girls.”
Divisional Commander for Mid-Glamorgan, Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones, said: “This significant funding announcement for our communities is extremely welcome news.
“The increased CCTV coverage, environmental improvements and the delivery of key educational interventions will help to further reduce crime and ASB in these communities, improve feelings of safety and increase public confidence in their ability to influence local problem solving.
“In addition, we will continue vital work with the Commissioner, the local authority and key strategic partners to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms. Through our own targeted patrols, we are committed to ensuring that we do all we can to reassure our communities that their safety and well-being are always at the heart of everything we do.”
Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Cllr Andrew Morgan, said: “The safety of our residents is always of paramount concern and any measures that can be undertaken to increase their safety is hugely welcomed.
“It’s good to see that this significant investment will now help four priority communities here in Rhondda Cynon and Taf and will focus on making women and girls to feel safer on our streets.
“We will continue to work in partnership with the Police and our partner agencies to ensure that all streets in RCT are safer for everyone, along with taking action to increase feelings of safety across our County Borough and reduce anti-social behaviours.”
