Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has insisted that Warsop is not a dangerous place as several new projects are announced focused on the safety of women and girls there. But one business owner says the new projects are "definitely" needed and that being in the town late at night at the moment can be "horrendous".
The new projects for Warsop have been announced after a successful bid to the Government's latest round of safer streets funding, which was focused on tackling neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. Projects that will be delivered in Warsop include new street lighting, CCTV installations, and upgraded number plate recognition cameras.
Caroline Henry, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, who made the bid for Government funding, said: "This isn't just about feelings, this is also about looking at the evidence and that does show that people in Warsop are safe.
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"But there is also the issue of perceived danger and that's what these projects are really about helping to tackle. If you see that there are more CCTV cameras, if you know that there are safe spaces for you to go and an app you can use that notifies people of your location, then that is reassuring and of course you are going to feel safer.
"Something that also helps the feeling of safety though is when an area looks as though it is loved, such as if it has got improved lighting and the streets are looking tidier. So it is also about doing joined up work with our partners in the council and other agencies to improve the area more generally."
Money has been set aside so that 190 women will have free access to the Hollie Guard mobile phone app, which notifies chosen contacts of a person's location when they shake or tap their phone. Another major part of the work is a new safe space scheme, which around 25 Warsop businesses will be able to sign up to.
The participating businesses will be given CCTV cameras and staff training in how to support people who need help. Safe Space signs will also be placed outside these businesses so that people know they are there if needed.
Inspector Kylie Davies, the District Commander for Mansfield, said: "There could be a situation where a woman is walking down the street at night and a male is making her feel uncomfortable. She would be able to go into one of these safe spaces and they would have the training to be able to support her.
"We have used this scheme in Ashfield and the feedback has been really positive. It's not just a space for women and girls either, it can be used by anybody who might be feeling unsafe.
"We are just in the process now of scoping out the businesses that might want to be involved, but we will want to have a mix of businesses open in the daytime as well as licensed venues and takeaways that are open in the late evening. Our PCSOs will essentially be ring-fenced to focus on this, so they will be able to go to the participating businesses and make sure all the right measures are in place to support people."
One of the business owners who said that she would be willing to take part is Rachel Dunlop, who has been running the Warsop Computers shop at its current home on the High Street for eight years. She said: "I think this is really needed and we're only open in the daytime, but we'll be open when the schools are clearing out so if there are people who don't feel safe I'd be happy to support them.
"I do hear quite a lot of people saying that they sometimes feel unsafe when they're out on the streets. Even when I'm going to get a Chinese takeaway on a Friday, I'm thinking about where to park because there are sometimes gangs hanging around and it can be horrendous."
The Warsop schemes are expected to be largely up and running by next spring. The total amount of money that will be spent on them is currently proposed to be £266,500, with the most costly element being the installation of new CCTV at £55,000.
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