Communities come together as they take action against crime

Ten neighbourhoods in Plymouth are benefiting from 17 projects thanks to the Community Action Against Crime (CAAC) small grants scheme.

The scheme was launched in October 2013 after the Police and Crime Commissioner provided funding of £59,000 to the Safer Plymouth Partnership to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Neighbourhoods with the highest crime rates were allocated up to £5,900 and ward councillors working with community and voluntary organisations were able to bid for funding to help initiate projects to reduce or prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.

Many projects aim to get people who are committing crime, are at risk of committing crime or are vulnerable off the streets and involved in positive activities such as sport or music.

For example, the Plymouth Roller Hockey Club in Honicknowle aims to encourage young people to take part in a sport which is fun, inclusive and provides an opportunity to develop key skills.

More people are also getting involved in the Plymouth Music Zone based in Devonport where music-based activities and cutting-edge technology provides opportunities for people living in the most deprived areas of the city.

Other projects include extending the city’s Street Pastor patrols to other parts of the city, improving training opportunities for Police Cadets, providing workshops in youth centres and community centres to help young people learn valuable life skills and engaging individuals to get involved in a positive activity with the aim of preventing them from criminal activity.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development, said: “It is great to see so many partners coming together to do something positive that is helping some of the most deprived and vulnerable people in our city. The projects that have been awarded are making a positive impact with many clubs increasing their membership to enable more people to benefit. We hope that this event will encourage greater partnership working and sharing of good practice between grant recipients."

Sarah Carlsen-Browne, from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s criminal justice commissioning team, added: “Plymouth, like the rest of Devon and Cornwall, faces significant policing challenges as it looks to further reduce costs while still providing high quality services and keeping our area safe. To meet these challenges we must be bold, be innovative and work together. If we do, there is so much we can achieve and this fund will help communities to play their part.

“We want to get the public more involved in policing and community safety by helping to boost resilience and to stop crime occurring. We all have important roles to play in protecting our communities.”

The ten neighbourhoods benefiting from the small grants scheme are; Barne Barton, Devonport, East End, Greenbank and the University, Honicknowle, Mutley, Plymouth City Centre, Stoke, Stonehouse and Whitleigh where crime was predominantly anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, other theft, and violence with injury, vehicle crime, public order offences and shoplifting.