The Leader of Nottingham City Council has reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to public safety, following a spate of serious incidents near Nottingham’s canal paths.
Councillor Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “We take the safety of our city extremely seriously. Recent incidents involving sexual assault and knife crime are deeply concerning, and I want to reassure residents that we are working at pace with our partners to respond.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe where they live, work, or visit – and that includes canal towpaths and public open spaces. Safety is our top priority, and we will not tolerate violence or anti-social behaviour in our city.
“We’re working closely with Nottinghamshire Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and the Canal & River Trust to strengthen safety measures in the area.
“Extra security patrols have now been introduced on Friday and Saturday evenings across key city centre locations – including the canal area – to deter crime and provide visible reassurance.
“This is alongside a citywide approach to tackling crime and supporting prevention. Across Nottingham, we have over 300 public space cameras operating 24/7. In the city centre and Castle Ward alone, there are 64 cameras – many with pan, tilt and zoom functionality – and newer areas like the Green Heart include 360-degree CCTV for maximum visibility.
“We review our CCTV network annually using police data and performance insights to make sure it continues to serve our communities effectively and are also looking to invest in areas identified as higher risk such as the canal towpaths to improve safety and encourage reporting.”
“I want to be clear: alongside relevant partners, we are doing everything we can to make Nottingham safer. Tackling knife crime, preventing violence against women and girls, and protecting our communities will always be a priority for me as Leader.
“If you witness or experience any criminal or anti-social behaviour, please report it to Nottinghamshire Police by calling 999 in an emergency or 101 for non-emergencies, so appropriate action can be taken.”
ENDS