Eye in the sky
CCTV is designed to help prevent and detect crime and to reassure the public about community safety.
It has a huge role to play in keeping people safe in Exeter - and the investment made in two Government funded Safer Streets projects has upgraded the city’s system to state of the art. In 2022 71 new cameras were erected in 32 locations.
In 2023 another 54 cameras have been installed in 21 locations. A further 58 cameras went on line at 27 locations funded by the city council and the police commissioner. Put together, by this summer, there will be over 200 cameras monitoring public spaces, shopping areas and car parks across the citydelivering high resolution images to the newly upgraded monitoring room. The council has also funded three new fulltime posts for monitoring staff.
“The benefits of CCTV are clear to Exeter
quality evidence to the police and relevant enforcement agencies,” said
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city council.
“The advance our system has undergone in recent
Edition 5 April 2023
This
upgraded monitoring room (below)
through the Safer Streets fund and the city is a safer place as a result of that.”
Shining a light
THANKS to grants from Safer Exeter’s Community Sparks scheme, InExeter the Business improvement District for Exeter city centre has planned a range of initiatives on South Street. The project has been called ‘South Street Shine’ as the plans collectively will shine a light on South Street, celebrating this area of the city and facilitating it to flourish this year.
South Street Shine includes an interactive art installation situated outside Skipton Building Society.
Local artist Scott Walker, whose interactive cartoons draw inspiration from contemporary character design and street art, recently visited South Street, hand drawing his creative characters with the community invited to take part in colouring in the design.
Events Manager Marina O’Shea who has organised the interactive art for South Street Shine, said: “It is wonderful to be activating South Street with this art installation where the whole community can get involved, help celebrate their area and have ownership of the Street.”
Other initiatives that are part of South Street Shine have been
Keen artists help colour in Scott Walker’s artwork (above ) while Mattie Richardson prepares to hand out planters (right)
organised by Projects Manager Mattie Richardson.
“It is fantastic to be able to activate a new area of the city with planting for 2023,” said Mattie. “These colourful floral displays enhance the streetscape and soften the urban environment.”
Each planter has been adopted
by businesses on South Street, whose manager Catherine Lovich, said: “We are looking forward to being part of South Street Shine and being a custodian for our own planters. It is fantastic to all be working together to make South Street burst to life with colour this spring”.
Safe Space showing its value
EXETER Safe Space has supported more than 850 people since opening in November.
74 people received medical treatment preventing 29 ambulance call outs and 42 visits to A&E - thus saving the NHS somewhere in the region of £23,000* already.
Under-21s were the largest age group requiring support with just eight people over the age of 30 needing medical help.
Alcohol related illness was the biggest reason
for visiting (36), nine wounds were treated and seven other injuries, and five people presented with mental health issues.
Almost 400 bottles of water were handed out, 114 anti-spiking bottle tops provided, 47 people charged their phones, and 21 people used it as a safe waiting place.
The Safe Space will now be open Friday and Saturday evenings only.
*Based on figures published by the King Fund .
April 2023 2
SWaN gets moving!
EXETER’S Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) Charter continues to gain momentum after it was relaunched to members old and new recently.
The relaunch event, held at The Terrace in the Guildhall, saw many local businesses gather to hear how charter membership has grown to over 161 registered businesses since January.
A presentation outlined the strides made by each workstream as part of Safer Exeter’s Safer Streets project one of which is the SWaN Charter - a voluntary pledge to prioritise the safety of women and to acknowledge it is all our responsibility to take practical steps together to keep our city safe for everyone.
Peter Scargill, chair of Exeter’s Community Safety Partnership, said the Charter helps address the causes and effects of violence against women and girls in our city.
“The Charter and associated toolkit gives businesses a framework in which to show their
commitment to keeping all women and girls safe,” he said.
“In signing the charter, they make a voluntary commitment to deliver its pledges and commitments.
“We will ask businesses to recommit to the charter annually but we will help them to deliver by providing regular training updates, signposting to specialist providers and guidance, and sharing national best practice.
“We encourage anyone planning to go out in the city to look for stickers displayed in venues to show they have signed the Charter so you know they are committed to keeping you safe.
“If your local pub isn’t showing a sticker ask if they have signed the charter and if not, why not?”
You can find out which organisations have signed up to the charter or, how your organisation can sign up, here: exeter.gov.uk/clean-safe-city/ community-safety/safety-ofwomen-at-night-charter/ committing-to-the-charter/
Safer Exeter will soon be launching its educational toolkit which focusses on attitudinal change and raising awareness to prevent street harassment.
There will be two toolkits - which will include informative videos - one will target primary school children and another for young people of secondary school age.
The former will focus on changing attitudes to women and girls as there is a lot of evidence to show that disrespect and aggressive behaviour are dyed in early.
The kit delivered in secondary schools will be focussed on preventing street harassment.
The toolkit has been produced by Exeter University and delivery will be coordinated through the Exeter Education Alliance, a collective of education providers in the city including the University, College, Ted Wragg Trust and Exeter Learning Academy Trust and others.
April 2023 3
Peter Scargill, chair of Exeter’s Community Safety Partnership addresses guests at the relaunch of the SWaN charter
It’s never too soon to start teaching respect
Working together
EXETER’S police team spent much of last month delivering a city centre response to public concerns about antisocial behaviour, drug and alcohol use and violence.
An increased presence helped to supplement the work of Safer Exeter which has spent two years responding to community concerns through the Government funded Safer Streets Project.
Sidwell Street, High Street, Fore Street, South Street and Gandy Street saw more officers deployed to tackle key issues being experienced in the city.
The plan was to increase visibility and engagement levels with residents, students, visitors and local businesses and are working with partners to improve the city for everyone. In the first week of the operation, officers made 25 arrests for offences of public concern.
Peter Scargill, chair of Safer Exeter, said: “In the last two years Safer Streets funding has improved CCTV and street lighting, asked women how safe they feel in Exeter and, as a result published a charter which
addresses those concerns. We now have nearly 170 businesses committed to that charter.
“We have successfully opened and are running a Safe Space to help people when they are vulnerable on a night out. We have provided bystander intervention training to hundreds of people who now have skills to help someone being harassed.
“We are working with students encouraging them to be better neighbours and have supported dozens of projects aimed at making the city a better place to live, work and play.
“We welcome the police operation in support of our work but safety must start in communities, with better understanding of right and wrong. Communities must learn to act respectfully and keep themselves safe.”
Superintendent Antony Hart, who heads up city centre policing, said: “This focussed policing activity is intended to improve the safety and confidence of members of the public, including the business community and those enjoying the night-time economy.”
Safer Exeter has launched a campaign asking students to play a positive role in their communities