Plan to improve 'crime-ridden areas' in Brighton and Hove

Figures from Sussex Police show more than 130 crimes have been reported in the Royal Pavilion Gardens in the last three years.

This includes seven reports of rape, attempted rape and serious sexual assault.

Police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne is spearheading a bid for the government’s safer streets fund, which aims to improve public safety for women and girls.

If successful, the gardens, along with Brighton War Memorial Park and Old Steine Gardens would see improvements totalling about £150,000.

“People do not feel safe in these areas of Brighton and they have been allowed to become crime-ridden areas,” said Conservative councillor Dawn Barnett, who has been campaigning for more CCTV.

“This CCTV and lighting will be welcomed by young women and pensioners in particular.

“There have been a number of nasty incidents reported in the press in recent years and the criminals find the Pavilion and Old Steine an easy place to operate.”

In 2020 rapist Andrew Ford, from Hollingbury, was jailed after targeting a woman in the gardens who was so drunk that she could barely walk.

Andrew Ford was captured on CCTV in this media appeal at the time

Earlier this month, a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with raping a 17-year-old girl in the area.

“It is time to fight back and get on top of the criminality,” Cllr Barnett added.

Works to Pavilion Gardens are expected to cost £69,969.

The bid also contains requests for four new lighting columns in Brighton War Memorial Park totalling £28,446 and 15 new lighting columns in Old Steine Gardens totalling £64,396.

PCC Bourne said: “For the latest round of safer streets funding which is focused on tackling violence against women and girls, we conducted a public consultation and the three areas of Brighton were among those identified and subsequently included in the bid put forward to the Home Office.

“We will have to wait until September/October to learn if we have been successful.”

The city’s Conservatives claim the council declined an invitation to participate in a first round bid for safer streets in 2019.

Councillor Dee Simpson in Pavilion Gardens

Conservative communities spokeswoman, councillor Dee Simson, said: “As a result of our city’s non-participation, Eastbourne and Hastings, which did progress applications, were awarded £893,366.

“The council has some serious questions to answer as to why they cost the city funding for CCTV, street lighting, improved home security and funding for neighbourhood watch schemes and support for small businesses.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “The council did not decline to bid for Safer Streets Funding in 2019.

“At the time the bidding process was being led by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, not the council.

“We had some initial discussions about a bid. But the decision not to pursue this into a bid was not taken by the council.

“We are very glad to have played a key part in an excellent Safer Streets bid this time round.

“We believe women in particular will welcome its emphasis on street lighting as a key safety feature.”

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