New £10k funding released for community crime-fighting projects
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has announced the release of fresh funding to power community efforts to fight back against crime and improve feelings of safety.
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC is focusing his latest Community Action Fund (CAF) round on Neighbourhood Crime, providing charities, local groups, parish councils, voluntary organisations and schools with an opportunity to secure vital investment to support his efforts to build safer, stronger and prosperous communities.
Individual grants of up to £10k are available for projects designed to reduce and prevent neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), protect heritage sites and help residents feel safer in the places where they live, work and visit.
Funding can be used for a wide range of initiatives including:
Crime Prevention Workshops for residents, schools or community groups on personal safety, home security, fraud awareness and crime prevention.
Youth Diversion Activities that provide positive activities, mentoring and skills development opportunities for young people who may be at risk of involvement in ASB or crime.
Community Safety Events that raise awareness of crime prevention, encourage community engagement and build stronger neighbourhood networks.
Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Campaigns that educate communities about the impact of ASB and promote positive community values.
Environmental Improvements that improve public spaces, reduce opportunities for crime, and increase feelings of safety such as signage, community clean-ups, or planting projects.
Community Cohesion Projects that bring people together, reduce isolation, and help foster a stronger sense of belonging and shared responsibility for community safety.
Heritage Crime Prevention Projects that help safeguard local heritage assets from criminal damage, theft, vandalism, ASB and arson. This could include security upgrades such as CCTV, lighting, alarms, locks and other protective measures at historic buildings, heritage railways and war memorials.
Neighbourhood Crime is a key priority in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan, with the Commissioner committed to investing significant annual funding into local communities for crime prevention activity.
Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews said: “Issues like burglary, street drinking, theft and vandalism regularly rank as top causes of anxiety for local people and leave residents feeling vulnerable and unsafe even if they have no direct experience of being a victim of crime.
“We can make a significant difference to wellbeing and safety if we stop these crimes from happening in the first place by addressing risky behaviour at the onset and providing people with a clear route to rehabilitation to stop the revolving door of offending.
“Preventing crime is a team effort and I value highly the expertise and skills of our communities in solving the issues that motivate people to offend.
"There’s much more we can do to help people thrive and protect them from the risks that undermine their safety and confidence and sabotage their life opportunities. I’m looking forward to working together with our communities to expand our prevention work for the safety of everyone. Please – if you believe your organisation is eligible, understands the needs of our communities and can make a difference – get in touch.”
The round opened on Monday and closes on Sunday November 8 at 4.59pm. Any applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Go to www.leics.pcc.police.uk/what-we-do/commissioning/current-funding-available/community-action-fund/round-5---neighbourhood-crime/ for more information and details of how to apply.