READING Borough Council is inviting residents to have their voices heard on the new Community Safety Partnership survey.
The annual survey seeks residents’ views on levels of safety in the town and make changes to help make Reading safer.
The partnership sees collaboration between the council, Thames Valley Police, the Probation Service, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board.
It works to make Reading safer through coordinated efforts to discourage criminal and anti-social behaviour, such as drug-related activity, digital crime, and other complex issues through its work with other strategic partners in the town.
The partnership has made a number of improvements to the town centre possible, resulting in £429,000 of Safer Streets Funding from the Home Office earmarked to improve town safety.
The funding saw a number of safety measures put in place, including five mobile CCTV cameras which can be moved between hotspots to provide additional surveillance, and nine new cameras in hotspots where residents felt less afe.
It also led to the establishment of the Reading Safe Space hub, where people who feel threatened, vulnerable or unwell can go for help and support on evenings out in our night-time venues.
Twelve new streetlights, including along Queen’s Road and Station Road, were installed as well as festoon lighting along Chain Street and Union Street.
Welfare training was also given to venue staff alongside a review of the Safer Neighbourhood Forums, which will seek to establish public meetings to discuss and problem-solve issues of crime and anti-social behaviour.
Karen Rowland, Lead Councillor for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said: “We’re working really hard to make Reading a safer place which everyone can visit with confidence, and we need input from our residents to tell us where we need to focus our resources going forward.
“Big steps have been taken already such as investing in increased cctv equipment, better lighting and the Reading Safe Space, but the people best qualified to tell us what residents need action on next is our residents themselves.
She explained: “There is always more that we can do and budgets need to be carefully considered, so it is critical that we take residents’ views on board to help inform what they feel will make Reading safer.
“Please get involved, take the survey and help us keep pushing forward the best initiatives that we are able to action to make Reading a safer place for you.”
Superintendent Colin Hudson, Local Police Commander, said: “The CSP plays a key role in targeting resources toward issues affecting communities in Reading.
“It is important the CSP is linked in to how residents, businesses and those living and working in the area feel about safety. I hope people will respond to the survey, giving their community a voice.”
In-person meetings are taking place from next week where residents will be able to have their say, including at Coley Park Community Centre from 9am on Tuesday, July 23; Broad Street and Station Hill from 1.30pm on Wednesday, July 24; Whitley Wood Community Centre from 9.30am on Tuesday, July 30.
Meetings will also take place at Battle Library from 1pm on Thursday, August 15, and Palmer Park Library from 2pm on Thursday, August 29.
Further information about the partnership and how to take part in the survey is available via: www.reading.gov.uk/communitysafetysurveyevents
