'CRUEL SNUB'
■ Decision to shun city's £1m bid to tackle crime branded disappointing
The decision to shun a £1million campaign to keep thieves out of homes and businesses on Wearside has been branded a “cruel snub”.
The office of Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) made a bid for funding from the Home Office with the backing of city leaders, making the case for £494,479 for the Hendon area of Sunderland and £373,014 to support the New Town area of Houghton.
But the team has been told it has not been granted the cash and it now plans to write to the Government to find out why.
Had it been pledged, Hendon funds would have targeted empty properties, which have been damaged as boilers and pipework have been ripped out for scrap.
There were plans to install CCTV throughout the area – which experienced 57 burglaries between January last year and this March – including in back lanes where thieves use the access to drive off with stolen goods.
Other proposals drafted up included support for residents’ groups and burglary prevention packs, such as locks, alarms and motionactivated lighting, with support for the community to help people feel safe.
Businesses owners would have received support to refurbish their properties.
Northumbria PPC Kim McGuinness said: “This is hugely disappointing news and a cruel snub by the Home Secretary.
"My job is to help the police prevent crime and fight crime, but that task is near impossible if the Government will not give us the funding to do that job.
"We’re talking about a bid that would have provided nearly £1 million in burglary kits, CCTV systems and funds to sort out derelict properties. These are things that would have made a real difference to cutting crime, to make people feel safe in their homes. My office will be writing to the Home Office to ask why Sunderland has been snubbed this way.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Safer Streets Funding was awarded following an open, fair and transparent competition, with successful applications demonstrating how projects would deliver the aims of the programme.
“Northumbria PCC’s bid did not meet the requirements for funding and we will provide the PCC with full feedback."