Residents offered free security packs to tackle crime

Residents in parts of Stockton are being offered free security equipment to help keep them safe.

Special packs are being handed out to people living in the council's town centre ward, as part of a safer streets scheme.

The area recorded 17% of the total recorded neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour in 2020/21, according to Cleveland Police figures.

Households in Portrack and Tilery, as well as parts of Ropner are eligible, and the packs include window locks, doorbells with cameras, timers and motion sensor lights.

Paul Payne, Cleveland Police’s crime prevention specialist for Stockton, said: "Already we have had a great response with up to 50 residents in Portrack interested in taking up the security equipment which we will be looking to deliver in the coming weeks.

“We will also be looking to roll out the equipment further in other parts of Stockton, therefore I’d ask homeowners to keep an eye out for our postcard to sign up.”

Funding has been secured from the Home Office as part of the latest round of the Safer Streets Fund.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said the equipment would help ensure members of the community to "feel safe".

"I would encourage anyone who is eligible to sign up to access the free home security equipment,” she added.

Extra street lighting and CCTV cameras are also being fitted in the area.

Cleveland's Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner said up to £331,000 will be spent in Stockton over 18 months.

Work in the town is part an overall programme of almost £1m across the Cleveland force area, he added.

Follow BBC Tees on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].