Surrey Police, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey have secured over £270,000 in government funding as part of the Safer Streets initiative.
In response to ongoing issues in and around Epsom town centre, Surrey Police worked closely with Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to draw up an application for Safer Streets funding.
A survey was sent out into the community and the results were closely consulted when drafting the application. Among the concerns raised were drug use, threatening behaviour, extreme drunkenness, and violence within Epsom town centre, closely linked to the night-time economy.
The survey highlighted a desire for better signposting to help and support, and a need for increased confidence in the police response to issues within the town centre.
The application was drafted by the police and council, then approved and submitted by Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend. Other areas in Surrey to benefit from successful funding bids are Sunbury Cross and the Surrey Towers development in Addlestone.
The money will be used, among other measures, to modernise CCTV use, deliver training packages for licensed premises, and to provide free anti-drink spiking and spiking detection devices within Epsom town centre.
Borough Commander for Epsom & Ewell, Inspector Jon Vale, said, “This is fantastic news. Surrey Police and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have worked tirelessly as a partnership in the submission of this bid. The community have told us their concerns, and we have listened.
“The funding made available will allow the partnership to implement numerous measures that would not otherwise been a possibility. This will help to make Epsom town centre an even safer place for users of the night-time economy, in particular women and girls.
“Tackling violence against women and girls is a specific priority for the Epsom & Ewell Community Safety Partnership and this work demonstrates our shared commitment in this respect.”
Rod Brown, Chair of the Epsom and Ewell Community Safety Partnership, said, “We know from speaking with residents that the safety of their environment is of great importance. I am delighted that this award will allow us to deliver lasting benefits to the late-night economy in Epsom to allow business to invest with confidence and secure safety improvements for the town.”