Keeping our streets protected as Bury builds for the future

Prosecution of those causing disturbance in the town centre, support for young people who might be drawn into trouble, and support for women and girls affected by violence are all success stories from work to protect residents and visitors.

As Bury’s regeneration plans move from the drawing board to cranes in the sky, Bury Council and its partners are working to keep the town’s reputation as a safe place to visit.

Earlier this year, Bury’s Community Safety Partnership received around £370,000 from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund.

The money is to be used to reduce and prevent neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls in public spaces, and for everyone to feel safe.

The first projects from the fund are already working to keep us all safe:

Public stewards and guardians

The money has been used to train street stewards to be the eyes and ears for different organisations about issues taking place in the town centre.

Their relationship with the police has already seen them support the prosecution of a group causing a disturbance in the town centre.

They are able to help town centre visitors with first aid, and having rapid clean kits enables them to tackle graffiti.

New CCTV cameras in Bury town centre

Some 32 new cameras are helping to keep the town centre safe allowing the police, public guardians, community safety and security officers to better respond to incidents.

At the same time, the radio network has been improved allowing for better communication between the partners.

Youth workers out and about in Whitefield, Radcliffe and Bury

A team of youth workers is helping young people not to fall into anti-social behaviour and crime, particularly on the Metrolink network.

The team will respond to incidents at hotspots and is developing relationships with young people to provide information and advice about activities.

They’re out every evening of the week and have been targeting potential hotspots such as Whitefield and Radcliffe Metrolink stations and Bury Interchange.

Environmental improvements

The fund is being used to improve the environment of local areas to deter criminals and anti-social behaviour and so help the public to feel safer.

Anti-climb spikes have now been installed at Heaton Park, Radcliffe, Besses o' th’ Barn and Whitefield Metrolink stations to prevent access to roofs and other parts of the buildings.

Solar-powered lighting is to be put up in the park next to the Coronation Estate in Radcliffe, with tree pruning to improve the line of sight into the park. It follows conversations with the police and community to deter drug use and drug dealing.

Training to spot violence against women and girls

Training for people working with the public is being provided to help spot the signs of violence against women and girls.

Bus drivers, waste management, taxi drivers and people who work in pubs, clubs, restaurants and other parts of the night-time economy will be equipped with the skills to spot situations where violence is being used against women and girls.

A major publicity campaign will take place sharing the stories of real women and girls affected by violence.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for communities and inclusion, said: “Our Purple Flag Award shows that we’re a safe town centre and borough but we’re not resting on our laurels and we doing all we can to keep our reputation as a welcoming place to visit.

“The Safer Streets funding builds on what we already have in place, particularly around the night-time economy, with street pastors and our work with businesses to develop the Women's Night-time Safety Charter for licensed bars and clubs open during the night.

“All the projects involved are making a real difference in our local areas and we will continue to work with our partners to keep everyone safe.

“Our public guardians are highly visible in their uniforms and, if you’re out and about in the town centre, come and say hello. They’re not just there to protect us and to work with the police but can help in all sorts of ways.”

Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture, economy and skills, added: “We want Bury to be a place that is achieving faster economic growth than the national average, with lower than national average levels of deprivation.

“It’s not just about new buildings and infrastructure, but how people feel about a place is equally important. Our residents and visitors want to feel safe when they’re out and about, which is why projects like the Safer Streets Fund are so important.

“We’ve got Purple Flag status as a safer town centre.

“Our Bury Masterplan is in place to making a difference to the town centre

“We will begin work on the new flexi-hall soon.

“Thousands of visitors come to Bury every day and night to shop, visit, eat and be entertained, for an authentic experience. It just doesn’t happen by accident, and keeping people safe is one of the important ways to support our economic growth.”

Bury’s Community Safety Partnership includes Greater Manchester Police, Bury Council, local community and voluntary groups represented through Bury VCFA, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, Probation Service and others.

ENDS

Press release issued: 22 October 2024.

Picture (from left): Nigel Shields, town centre director of Bury BID; Cllr Sandra Walmsley; Ian Warburton, Street Pastors; Chief Inspector Mike Barton; Pete Eccleston, district licensing officer; Cllr Charlotte Morris; Victoria Robinson, chief executive of Bury Met and chair of Bury BID; and Rebecca Hindle, marketing co-ordinator at The Rock shopping centre.