Police award over £200k to community groups in crime prevention scheme

More than £200,000 has been seized from criminals to fund crime prevention projects across the Thames Valley.

Police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber and chief constable Jason Hogg awarded £203,195 to community and voluntary organisations which support work to tackle anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime in the first round of this year’s Community Fund.

Out of 210 applications submitted, 38 organisations received between £250 and £10,000, including Thatcham and Oxfordshire mental health charity Response (£5,000) and The Poor’s Allotments and Recreation Ground Charities cared for by Cold Ash Parish Council (£1,000).

Mr Barber said: “We know these are serious concerns in our communities and by allocating over £85,000 to these 17 projects we will be working to make communities safer.

“Our communities will benefit from this round through projects which align with a number of key policing priorities including additional CCTV systems, knife crime prevention and support for victims of crime.”

Mr Hogg added: “This funding will ensure community and voluntary organisations can continue to run projects that play an important role in preventing crime and protecting our communities.”

Successful recipients have been invited to attend a presentation event in Milton Keynes on Friday, May 2.

The Community Fund, previously the Police Property Act Fund, is created from the sale of seized goods recovered by police that cannot be returned to their original owner.

In accordance with the Police Property Act Regulations 1997, all awards from the fund must be for charitable purposes.