More funding is going towards community safety in South Staffordshire.
Money has been allocated to local areas in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent through the Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis’ Locality Deal Fund.
It will deliver what’s important to local people based on the four priorities set out in the Commissioner’s Safer, Fairer, United Communities Strategy – tackling the root causes of crime through early intervention, supporting victims and witnesses better, reducing reoffending and increasing public confidence.
Mr Ellis said: “It’s time to trust local areas to deliver what’s right for local people. That’s what I’ve committed to do and that’s what I’m doing.
“I have significantly increased the funding that South Staffordshire and other local areas have to make their communities safer.
“Providing more money at a local level in this way will help deliver the best community safety solutions for people in South Staffordshire.
“What’s more, this funding is guaranteed until 2016 rather than on a 12-month basis which gives a greater chance for continuity instead of having to plan ‘exit strategies’ at the outset.”
Funding will go to South Staffordshire Council’s community safety partnership for the financial year 2014/15. Eighty per cent will be provided initially with a further 20 per cent following in October subject to successful evaluation of local achievements.
Leader of South Staffordshire Council Brian Edwards said: “We are extremely pleased to receive this funding, which will go a long way to tackling issues we consider to be a priority in the district.
“We want to give more support to victims and families, as well as managing offenders and this funding will help. The money will also help our prevention work and support victims of burglary, domestic violence, anti-social behaviour and business crime.
“By working in partnership with the police and other authorities, we can ensure we are doing everything we can to support local people, engage with our communities and ultimately increase public confidence.”
The Locality Deal Fund is the largest part of £2.5 million of Commissioner’s Community Funding for 2014/15.
Two other funding streams will provide funding to local community safety projects. The Commissioner’s Proceeds of Crime Fund is seeing 100 per cent of funding received by Staffordshire Police going back into local communities, through grants of between £3,000 and £15,000. It is made up of money seized from criminals as Staffordshire Police continue to robustly strip offenders of their assets.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner’s People Power Fund empowers local groups to find solutions to community safety problems through smaller grants of between £100 and £3,000.
For more details visit http://www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/fund/
