The UK has doubled the budget for its Safer Streets fund to £45 million. The fund is used by local authorities across the UK to improve neighbourhoods with enhanced lighting and CCTV coverage. The decision comes in response to the outpouring of experiences and concerns following the death of Sarah Everard.
The announcement came following a meeting of the UK’s Criminal Justice Taskforce. The increased fund is expected to be used to improve lighting and CCTV coverage in areas such as parks and alleyways as well as routes from bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
“The horrific case of Sarah Everard has unleashed a wave of feeling about women not feeling safe at night,” said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “We must do everything we can to ensure our streets are safe, and we are bringing in landmark legislation to toughen sentences and put more police on the streets. We are also now taking further steps to provide greater reassurance, such as providing better lighting and greater use of CCTV in parks and routes women may take on their walks home. Ultimately, we must drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to better protect and defend them.”
