West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson talks about his Safer Communities Fund, which has ploughed more than £1.2 million into communities

WHEN I took office in 2012, I pledged to ensure I would do all I could to help retrieve assets from criminals and put the money back into communities affected by crime.

To that end, I created the Safer Communities Fund, (SCF) financed by money seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and fed into a single pot exclusively for local community safety initiatives.

I am delighted to say that the Fund has been, and continues to be, a great success, helping communities feel safer and funding essential work on a variety of projects. This funding is made possible by the excellent work of West Yorkshire Police and prosecutors in securing monies through the proceeds of crime.

The charities and groups that apply for funding have to meet one or more of the priorities within my Police and Crime Plan and such has been the success of the SCF Fund we are always well oversubscribed, demonstrating the need for such a resource at a time when Government funding will continue to bite hard.

For example, during this latest round of the Fund, 128 applications totalling more than £547,000 were received by my office.

To date, £1,211,201.45 has been awarded to 274 charities, voluntary groups and other organisations across West Yorkshire, and, at an event at Hanson Academy in Bradford last night 49 successful groups and projects from the latest grant round were awarded a share of £200,658.86 to support various community safety initiatives.

In Bradford 76 projects have benefited from £364,397 from the SCF Fund since its creation, helping projects in areas of most need.

These charities and groups demonstrate how illicit money is being ploughed back into the community and helping those who need it most, a really powerful message.

Last night’s event, and the previous events, show just how crucial this money is to ensure communities feel safer. I visit many of the projects awarded funding to see how that cash is being spent and am constantly overwhelmed by the fantastic work that goes on.

Last night we heard from the Bradford Courts chaplaincy project which received £4,760 to continue its work providing a free, independent, confidential service to victims. This money will enable two more support sessions a week at Bradford Magistrates Court with families, witnesses and anyone needing support with problems including bereavement, debt management, domestic violence and homelessness, helping an extra 200 people a year.

Supporting and safeguarding victims and vulnerable people, increasing opportunities for young people, working with offenders to reduce re-offending and tackling anti-social behaviour are a few examples of funded projects.

Being able to give grants from the Safer Communities Fund is one of the best parts of my role. It’s heartening to see what a difference relatively small amounts of money can make in our communities and I am continually impressed by the worthy causes and organisations applying to the Fund.

This money allows invaluable services to start and continue in our communities as lingering funding cuts continue to impact on charities and voluntary groups.

I launched the SCF to bring together money seized from criminals and fraudsters across West Yorkshire into a single pot to benefit local communities. There is an incredible demand for funding to pay for community projects and now more than £1million of this money has been used to help the people of West Yorkshire prevent crime and raise awareness of safeguarding issues, sending out a powerful, positive message.

I am determined, working with West Yorkshire Police and prosecutors, to use as much money as possible for community safety initiatives and I am leading a campaign to retain all the proceeds of crime in West Yorkshire. Under current legislation, (the Proceeds of Crime Act) the Government keeps half of the money seized from criminals. This is cash which could potentially double the amount available within the Safer Communities Fund and for policing and criminal justice services.

There is an incredible demand for funding to pay for community projects from a very diverse audience across Bradford and I would urge any organisations or groups that feel they meet the criteria to apply.

I want to make it easier for organisations to receive money from the SCF and make a difference to communities.

If you are interested in applying, visit westyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/safer-communities-fund.aspx

By working together and developing a network of groups and projects, I believe the fund is making a real difference in keeping West Yorkshire safer and feeling safer.