Agenda item

A petition has been received in the terms set out below.  At the time of agenda publication the petition contains 101 signatures of Watford residents.

“Lights and CCTV at Cassiobury Park Watford

We the undersigned petition the council to We, the undersigned, are concerned about the lack of proper lighting and CCTV in Cassiobury Park. We believe that the addition of lighting in key areas of the park would greatly improve the safety of the community. We have been made aware that there have been several incidents of assault happening in the park, which highlights the urgent need for increased security measures. Darkness presents a number of hazards, including the potential for crime and accidents. the undersigned members are concerned after a recent victim of an attack and assault in the park that resulted in serious head injuries, injuries to the body and hospitalisation. More people shared their fears and similar experiences if not worst.

We call on Watford Council to take immediate action to install lighting in the park, specifically in the following areas:
Entrance Cassiobury park by tennis courts , path from entrance to top of the park alongside cricket club, outdoor gym and various benches leading up to to town as it is used daily during commuting hours by Watford residents. We would be grateful for more lighting and CCTV cameras across the park. The police was unable in the past to track the offenders due to lack of resources and CCTV. The victims were unable to identify their attackers due to lack of lighting and darkness.
We believe that this small investment in the park will have a big impact on the safety and enjoyment of the community. We urge you to take action and make Cassiobury Park a safer and more accessible space for all.”

A petition with the requisite number of signatures from Watford residents had been received as set out in the agenda.

The petitioner, Ms Sheraze Benbakir, was invited to present the petition.  She contended that Cassiobury Park was a crucial resource for families and contributed to the community's well-being.  She acknowledged, however, the prevalence of anti-social behaviour in the area.  Ms Benbakir shared a personal experience of being assaulted in November of the previous year at 6:30 pm when visibility was low.  She urged the committee to consider measures to prevent such incidents in the future.  Ms Benbakir recognised that additional lighting could negatively impact the animals and natural environment of the park.  Nevertheless, she highlighted that commuters regularly used the route from Cha Cafe into town.  The existing lighting infrastructure was deemed insufficient, which would make it difficult for people to use the route safely.  Improving the lighting in this area was, therefore, critical to enhancing the safety of the park for the community.

The Chairman invited councillors and the Mayor to debate the petition. 

After Ms Benbakir 's presentation, the councillors applauded her bravery and expressed their appreciation for her efforts to make Cassiobury Park safe for everyone.  They acknowledged that the route from Cha Cafe to town was popular for commuters and discussed the need for improved lighting to enhance safety in this area.  However, they also noted that there was no need for lights across the entire park and that addressing gaps in the CCTV coverage could be a more effective way to prevent incidents.

The councillors raised concerns about the potential impact of additional lighting on wildlife and discussed the nine CCTV cameras currently in place in the park.  They emphasised the council's commitment to working with the police to ensure the safety of park visitors and noted that incidents were rare.  Members agreed to investigate further the feasibility of improving CCTV coverage while also exploring options for targeted lighting that would minimise negative impacts on wildlife.

Councillor Dychton formally responded to Ms Benbakir 's concerns by stating that, after liaising with the council's Community Safety Team and the police, it was confirmed that Cassiobury Park was not considered a crime or anti-social behaviour hot spot nor a high-risk area for crime.  However, given the high footfall around the entrances and exits of the park, these locations were on a standing police patrol plan that varied in resourcing to meet seasonal demands.  Councillor Dychton also highlighted that Watford's community safety partnership involved several key agencies, including the council and the police.  The partnership's four strategic objectives included tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), which would remain a priority objective overseen and monitored by the partnership through the 2024/5 plan.  The council was now an accredited White Ribbon organisation, as part of an international initiative to prevent violence against women and girls.  Councillor Dychton concluded by hoping that these initiatives would reassure the community regarding the measures being taken to keep everyone safe.

Following the debate, the Chairman thanked Ms Benbakir for attending the meeting.