New measures introduced in Bury to keep town centre safe

Bury's Community Safety Partnership received around £370,000 earlier this year from the government's Safer Streets Fund to tackle neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour, and violence against women and girls in public spaces.

This funding has been used to train street stewards to help maintain order in the town centre and assist the police in prosecuting offenders.

The stewards can also provide first aid to visitors and clean up graffiti using "rapid clean kits".

In addition, 32 new CCTV cameras have been installed across the town centre to aid the police, public guardians, and security officers in responding to incidents.

The radio network has also been upgraded to improve communication between these partners.

Youth workers have been deployed in Bury, Radcliffe, and Whitefield to guide young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

They will be active every evening, focusing on Metrolink stations and Bury Interchange.

The environment of the local areas is also being improved to deter criminals and instil a sense of safety in the public.

Anti-climb spikes have been installed at Heaton Park and various Metrolink stations, while solar-powered lighting is to be put up in the park next to the Coronation Estate in Radcliffe.

In a bid to combat violence against women and girls, people working with the public, including bus drivers, taxi drivers, waste management workers, and those in the night-time economy, are to be trained to spot signs of violence.

A publicity campaign is also planned to share the stories of women and girls affected by violence.

Cllr 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."

Cllr 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.

"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."