Local groups share £100k police fund
Proceeds of crime cash distributed to the community
VOLUNTARY and community organisations around Thames Valley have been awarded more than £100,000 from this year’s police community fund.
The community fund provides biannual funding to voluntary and community groups that help to achieve the objectives of the police and crime commissioner’s police and criminal justice plan.
The money for the scheme – totalling £107,670 – comes from the sale of items seized and recovered from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and is jointly managed by PCC Matthew Barber and chief constable John Campbell.
There were 117 applications to this year’s round of the community fund, with 30 organisations successful in receiving funding of between £900 and £8,500 to support one of the PCC’s Police and Criminal Justice Plan priorities.
These priorities are strong local policing, fighting serious organised crime, fighting fraud and cybercrime, improving the criminal justice system and tackling illegal encampments.
Mr Barber said: “I’m delighted to award this funding to community and voluntary organisations, who provide valuable services across Thames Valley.
“A key part of my Police and Criminal Justice Plan is to enable organisations to collaborate and tackle issues facing our communities.
“These organisations are all working hard in support of my Police and Criminal Justice Plan priorities for the region.
“I am pleased to provide this funding through the community fund, which is money that has been recovered from criminals, to support a range of projects across the area.
“I look forward to meeting this year’s successful recipients at the presentation event in December.”
Mr Campbell added: “This funding will help a number of projects across the Thames Valley which will contribute to the prevention of crime and protection of the vulnerable in line with the PCC’s priorities.”
Successful recipients have been invited to attend a presentation ceremony on the morning of December 13, in Newbury.