£100,000 grant aimed at preventing crime is now available to Banbury community groups

The fund is managed by the Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the Chief Constable and is only open to applicants twice a year. The Community Fund scheme is paid for by the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their owners.

The closing date for this round of applications is 12pm on Monday September 12 and applications will be considered by both the PCC and the Chief Constable.

Matthew Barber the PCC said: “I’m pleased to announce the latest round of the Community Fund is now open for applications. This is a great opportunity to support community and voluntary groups in reducing crime.

“We’re fortunate to have such an active community across Thames Valley that plays a significant role in helping to tackle local issues around crime prevention and supporting vulnerable groups.

“I have been fortunate to visit some of the groups we’ve supported in the past, who have benefited from the funding provided to support their communities and help prevent crime across the Thames Valley.

“I look forward to receiving applications which focus on a range of areas within my Police and Criminal Justice Plan.”

Organisations from across the Thames valley area can apply for grants for projects that support one or more of:

· Strong local policing (preventing crime & protecting communities)

· Fighting serious organised crime (protecting vulnerable people)

· Fighting fraud & cybercrime (fighting modern crimes)

· Improving the criminal justice system (reducing re-offending)

· Tackling illegal encampments (reducing the impact of encampments)

Chief Constable John Campbell said: “Using money generated from the sale of items seized from criminals that cannot be returned to their rightful owners is a great way of funding worthy projects and other work across the Thames Valley.

“This funding will play a big part in helping voluntary and community groups across the Thames Valley. It will allow them to continue to run projects that play such a big role in preventing crime and protecting our communities.”

Further information, including a link to the application form, can be found on the Thames Valley Police website.