PCC plans fresh funding bid to tackle anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood crime

• Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have another chance to get money from the Government to help finance the fight against crime and male violence against women and girls
• the Home Office has re-opened the Safer Streets Fund for the fifth time, with £60m up for grabs
• Gloucestershire has already been one of the main beneficiaries of the scheme with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) securing more than three million pounds of funding during the last 18 months
• Gloucestershire PCC Chris Nelson said “My team will now be working hard over the next few weeks to prioritise a whole list of ideas that we’ve already got, to make the most of this opportunity.

Today’s announcement that the Government is calling for fresh ideas in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour has been welcomed by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gloucestershire.

The eagerly anticipated news, which signalled the launch of phase five of the Safer Streets Fund, came in a statement from the Home Office this morning.

It means that PCCs, can begin drawing up their plans to bid for a share of £60 million Government funding available for tackling anti-social behaviour, neighbourhood crime and male violence and intimidation against women and girls.

Gloucestershire has already been one of the main beneficiaries of the scheme with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) securing more than three million pounds of funding during the last 18 months.

PCC Chris Nelson said, “This is the first time that PCCs alone have been asked to draw up plans, which shows the confidence the Home Office has in our judgement on how to make our streets safer.

“My team will now be working hard over the next few weeks to prioritise a whole list of ideas that we’ve already got, to make the most of this opportunity.

“I am proud of what we have achieved in previous rounds, but that success counts for nothing now as we start again afresh, like everyone else”.

The Safer Streets Fund was launched in January 2020 with the aim of reducing acquisitive crime in the worst affected local residential areas. PCCs across England and Wales were encouraged to bid for funding to invest in relevant crime prevention measures.

An independent evaluation found that communities benefitting from the first Safer Streets round of funding were less likely to worry about being mugged or robbed.