Local News
Home Office cash is huge boost for crime victims in Cleveland.
The Home Office has announced it's allocating nearly a quarter of a million pounds to projects that help victims of crime in Cleveland.
Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger is delighted with the announcement by Victim’s Minister Damian Green that the Home Office has allocated almost £237k for four projects – the full amount requested from the Competed Fund to be used to support victims of crime.
He said: “The bidding process was started on 7th April and invited PCCs to demonstrate the need for additional funding to support victims of serious crime, those who are persistently targeted, or to aid vulnerable or intimidated victims to help them recover.
“The projects we put forward included a request for £107,700 for officers to wear body cameras to enable effective evidence gathering which can also take pressure off victims, avoiding the need in some instances for testimony in court. Video-links to court buildings from neutral locations and the introduction of pre-trial therapy for victims of serious crime were also put forward in this project.
“We were also awarded £63,200 towards increasing victim safety and reducing intimidation. These projects focus on keeping domestic violence victims safe and the introduction of a ‘one-touch’ emergency contact phone will ensure repeat victims can easily summon assistance and capture critical evidence. This will be followed up by joint visits by IDVA support workers and neighbourhood police officers who will provide a combination of reassurance and practical help.
“£29,000 was awarded to ‘supporting young victims’ with schools being notified immediately where a pupil has experienced the trauma of domestic violence or abuse.
“And £37,000 was awarded to ‘Build Confidence and Awareness’ to tackle the issues of Honour Based Violence and Forced Marriage which are significantly under-reported. We will be offering a programme of confidence building and awareness-raising targeted at BME victims which will be led by the BME community, and offering other support material to help victims cope and recover.
“I believe that the projects applied for will offer help where it is most needed and I take great delight that they gained the full support of the Home Office who have decided all of the projects put forward in the bidding process merited funding.”
