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Work to keep our borough's streets safe has been highlighted as the Sarah Everard murder investigation continues.
With the Reclaim These Streets movement working to raise the issue of the safety of women following the disappearance and alleged murder of Sarah, Gravesham council has revealed its ongoing work with partner organisations to make the borough a safe place for all.
Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, Gravesham’s cabinet member for community and leisure, said: “The Sarah Everard case has been deeply disturbing for everyone, but of course mostly so for women who know how it is to feel unsafe and insecure on our streets, particularly after dark.
“Our thoughts are with Sarah’s family and friends at this time, as well as with anyone affected by the case or similar incidents.
“Nobody should live in fear of going out after a certain time, or be afraid to walk home alone from an evening out and we are determined to do all we can to make the streets of the borough safe and secure.
“One of our key priorities is to deliver services to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, to create local neighbourhoods in which people can live and socialise safely. We work closely with our communities, Kent Police, housing providers, the voluntary and private sectors, and other agencies to make Gravesham a safe place to live, work and enjoy.”
The council supports domestic abuse services such as the charity Choices and the Citizens Advice Bureau, and has promoted their work and how to contact them on its fleet of bin lorries, ensuring their message is seen across the borough. It has also provided additional funding to Choices during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The authority also led the Altogether Safer – Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls Project, which was funded through the Home Office for three years until last March. The project provided support to 269 adult female victims and 349 children through a police station-based Independent Domestic Violence (IDVA) service.
The Choose Respect Programme funded through the project was delivered by Choices and supported a total of 204 boys and young men with 12-week courses and one-to-one work to break the cycle of aggressive behaviour.
Despite the Home Office funding having ended, some of this work is continuing.
In addition, a review of all council-owned public space CCTV cameras in 2019 was completed and eight key town centre CCTV cameras upgraded. There has also been investment in additional CCTV in the Riverside Leisure Area.
Planners work with the police to "design out" crime from new developments and work with private developers to ensure they do the same.
'Nobody should live in fear of going out after a certain time, or be afraid to walk home alone from an evening out...'
Councillors and staff are also trained to spot signs that individuals are at risk, and how to report and deal with those welfare concerns. A wide range of support services and resources are available to staff to ensure their physical and mental wellbeing.
Cllr Mochrie-Cox added: “We also have in place strategies to help us counter anti-social behaviour, including making it easy for residents to report ASB, and measures to prevent it in the first place. This week members of my cabinet committee will be examining our draft Community Safety Strategy which, among other measures, covers support for victims of domestic abuse and protecting vulnerable people.
“We have every sympathy for the calls from Reclaim These Streets to make our communities safer for women, and indeed anyone and everyone who feels in even the slightest way vulnerable.
“We will continue to work with our partners from across the public, private and charitable sectors to ensure Gravesham is as safe as it can be.”
You can find out more about the council’s community safety work and initiatives here.
Meanwhile, specialist dive teams have been called in as the search of an historic town as part of the Sarah Everard murder investigation continues.
Officers yesterday began to focus on a waterside path and recycling bin near The Ropewalk in Sandwich.
Police are also continuing to search woodland behind an abandoned leisure complex where Ms Everard's body was found inside a large builder’s bag.
Today, eight Metropolitan Police vans were parked in Fridd Lane close to the once-popular Great Chart Golf and Leisure Complex near Ashford, which has been at the centre of the murder probe since Wednesday morning.
Last week, serving Metropolitan Police constable Wayne Couzens, 48, was charged with kidnapping and murdering Ms Everard, 33, who went missing while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on March 3.
