A Stafford-based mental health charity has received a boost from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Proceeds of Crime Fund.
Mid Staffordshire Mencap has been given funding for a new project designed to teach people with learning disabilities about hate and mate crime.
Figures from the website disabilityhatecrime.org.uk show that nationwide, 90 per cent of people with learning disabilities were bullied or harassed during 2013.
A £5,417 grant has been awarded from the PCC’s Proceeds of Crime Fund (formerly known as the Local Policing Fund) and will be used to run bespoke sessions by specialist outreach staff.
PCC Matthew Ellis is ensuring that 100 per cent of funding received by Staffordshire Police from proceeds of crime seizures is going back to local communities.
The Proceeds of Crime Fund is supporting projects in conjunction with local policing teams and local authorities. It is made up of assets and money seized by police from criminals in Staffordshire under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mr Ellis said: “For the first time, 100 per cent of funding that comes back to Staffordshire Police from proceeds of crime seizures is going directly to local communities.
“Mid Staffordshire Mencap has really impressed me with their work with vulnerable people.
“This money will help them deliver frontline support to people who are at the risk from exploitation.”
Hate and mate crime is where a person with learning disabilities is exploited by people posing as their friends.
This type of crime was highlighted by the tragic Warwickshire case of Gemma Hayter in 2010, where five people posing as her friends, abused and eventually murdered the 27-year-old who suffered from learning disabilities.
Mike Howell, Chief Officer at Mid Staffordshire Mencap, said: “An increasing number of people whose lives are affected by Learning Disabilities are telling us that they have been subject to hate crime, mate crime and e-mail scams.
“The grant we have received from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Proceeds of Crime Fund will ensure that we have sufficient time for our team of specialist outreach workers to help people with learning disabilities when they become involved in such a situation.”
The project is planned to start in March 2014 and will run for one year. For more information, contact Mid Staffordshire Mencap on 01785 244 270.
