Community is key to making Hartlepool stronger

Victoria ward, Hartlepool, was hit by the wave of disorder, which spread through UK towns and cities in August 2024.

But now, with the help of the Home Office's Safer Streets 5 programme, the community is coming together to re-build with a renewed sense of pride, unity and co-operation.

A total of £335,408 is being invested in the ward through the programme which involves Hartlepool Borough Council working closely with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland and Cleveland Police to tackle neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour.

Among the regular activities taking place are litter picks, spot checks on back alleys and fly-tipping, clean-up campaigns and security improvements at the homes of vulnerable residents.

At the helm of this grass roots’ action are Community Cohesion Officer Martin Jones and Environmental Projects Officer Thomas Carroll. Both men are employed as part of Safer Streets 5.Not only are they behind many of the street level initiatives but they make sure residents know what’s happening. Martin and Tom also gather feedback from residents, finding out what they like and don’t like about what’s going on – and what they want to see happen in their community.

Grass roots’ community action is now in full swing with:

• Two residents’ drop-in sessions planned per month with PCSO Graeme Handley. It’s a chance for residents to air concerns and find out how to set up new Neighbourhood Watch groups.
• A further day of action before Christmas, bringing the total to three in just over a month. These see Safer Streets Officers working with residents to pinpoint areas of concern – and work on improving them.
• Work to administer a Developing Neighbourhoods Fund. Residents can bid for small grants to set up community projects. A panel meets monthly to decide on grants. The fund will run until March 2025, depending upon funding availability.
• An environmental campaign with Lynnfield school to deter littering and dog fouling through a competition to design an eye-catching sign to put up on the area’s alley gates.
• Further security improvements to 36 alley gates. These will include fitting rotating anti-climb spikes – subject to planning permission – fitting lock protectors, carrying out repairs, painting and improved signage.
• Work to secure 20 empty properties by fitting screens to make them look lived in.

(L-R): Community Cohesion Officer Martin Jones, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey, Councillor Karen Oliver and Environmental Projects Officer Thomas Carroll outside an empty house fitted with laminated screens to make it look lived in.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: “It’s great to see the community coming together and working on things like the Big Town Tidy up and the community fund.The fund gives residents the chance to take ownership and plan their own activities with neighbours, promoting a greater feeling of pride and belonging.

“In a ward, where approximately 38 languages are spoken, it would be easy for the community to become fragmented. However, this project really does show that communities can work together successfully and are stronger when they unite in a common cause.”

Councillor Karen Oliver, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee and a Victoria Ward councillor, said: “Safer Streets 5 has had a hugely positive effect on the community, tackling some of the issues that most concern residents through an effective combination of education and enforcement.

“Martin and Thomas deserve a lot of praise for the energy and commitment they have brought to their roles, alongside local PCSO Graeme Handley. They are very visible and their work has undoubtedly helped to make residents feel safer in their own homes and the wider community.

“The challenge now is to ensure we build on the excellent progress made in the future.”

Thirteen Group is providing funding to support community engagement work as part of the initiative.

Leigh Karakostas, a Community Connector at Thirteen, said: “These kinds of community initiatives are all about coming together with other agencies and working closely with local people to identify and tackle the issues that matter most to them. Having listened very carefully, the partners have been delivering a number of targeted and co-ordinated actions and they have been very well-received in the community. We’re delighted to be playing our part, and to be providing financial support to a number of community groups and initiatives in the area along the way.”