Crime-prevention fund to support local projects

I’M delighted to let you know that a brand new fund has been launched in partnership with my office – Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) – Somerset Community Foundation and Quartet Community Foundation.

The Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund will support community projects and activities across Avon and Somerset that help to reduce crime and antisocial behaviour.

Local residents know their neighbourhoods better than anyone and we want to help them prevent crime in their area. Community groups and charities can now apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 from the fund to support projects that help create safer communities.

So, if you have an idea, initiative or a project that would benefit local communities, including creating safer streets and green spaces, raising awareness among young people and the promotion of restorative justice, please do apply. Further information can be found on my website.

» Last month, I was lucky enough to hold a thank you reception for local people who volunteer to support the work of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Volunteers from the Independent Residents Panel, Independent Scrutiny of Police Powers Panel and Out of Court Disposals Panel, as well as independent custody visitors, attended. It was a long overdue opportunity to thank the volunteers directly for the critical role they all play in improving accountability and public confidence in policing. The volunteers’ adaptability and willingness to provide an excellent service despite challenges relating to the pandemic has not gone unnoticed.

I look forward to continuing to work with our volunteers as they support me in ensuring Avon and Somerset Police is efficient, effective and legitimate. You can find out more about volunteering opportunities on my website.

» Finally, I wanted to let you know about an open, transparent and exciting new aid to governance and scrutiny of Avon and Somerset Police. Every quarter, we will be doing a live broadcast of the Performance and Accountability Board, which is the main forum where I hold the Chief Constable to account.

I hope by broadcasting these meetings, local people will feel confident that as PCC I am carrying out effective scrutiny and accountability in relation to core policing functions and Avon and Somerset Police’s performance. The broadcast will give you an opportunity to listen to Chief Constable Sarah Crew and her team on the work taking place to ensure the force is efficient, effective and keeping local communities safe.

The first of these live broadcasts is on Thursday, at 1pm, and you can find the link on our website from next week. If you cannot tune in live, you can still watch the broadcast on our website at a later time.