Mayor to launch cash for new crime-fighting ideas

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Fund to help new crime prevention initiatives get off the ground

Cash raised by the new charity would be used to support borough-wide schemes promoted by the council, police and voluntary sector which would not otherwise attract mainstream funding.

Ideas could include extra support for victims of anti social behaviour who are giving evidence in court and outreach work with hard to reach groups who are not currently benefiting form crime prevention advice.

It could also help neighbourhood watch groups get protects started for older residents and young people in their area and could also include measures to tackle burglary, racial harassment and domestic violence.

The Mayor, Cllr Jim Maddan, said “I am delighted to be associated with the launch of this new charity in my Mayoral Year. The charity can work alongside existing groups like Neighbourhood Watch who play such an important part in keeping our borough safe.

“It will be a new ideas fund which will encourage experimental schemes that can help the council and the police achieve their crime and disorder reduction targets.  The fund will be unique. There is nothing else like this in the borough that can help tap new sources of funding to develop boroughwide initiatives.”

The charity will work with police crime prevention teams and could in time take on the running of its own projects.  

November 30, 2006