In July 2022 Reading Borough Council and partners secured £429,000 of Safer Streets funding from the Home Office. These funds are available until September 2023 to reduce crime and improve safety in Reading town centre.
The Council, Thames Valley Police and Police and Crime Commissioner are match funding 50% of the total bid, which is made up of in-kind resources including officer time to support the delivery of the project. It will enable collaboration with voluntary sector partners to build on initiatives already taking place across the town to make its communities safer.
The Reading Safer Streets Partnership aims to improve safety in the town centre through the following projects.
A Reading Safe Hub in the town centre will act as a community safety drop-in centre, offering a safe and inclusive space for young people during the day and providing first aid and welfare support at night, by working with First Stop and the Street Pastors.
Working with voluntary sector partners including Starting Point, No5 Young People and Reading FC Football Club we will support young people (13-18 years old) to shape community safety activities in the town.
Running community safety campaigns, working with bars, pubs and clubs and promoting safe routes home for those enjoying the town at night.
Working with agencies and businesses we aim to make hotspot areas of the town lighter, cleaner and more welcoming. We will also enhance the town’s CCTV coverage to deter and capture criminal activity.
Bringing together the Council, the University, Students’ Union (RUSU) and Reading College to address key safety issues for students (16-25 years old).
Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre. Working with police officers and other statutory agencies we will carry out educational and enforcement activity to address theft, anti-social behaviour and violence against women.