Cambridgeshire police given £500,000 to tackle burglary and theft

The Safer Streets Fund aims to stop offences that blight communities and cause misery to victims from happening in the first place.

Following a bidding process, grants of up to £550,000 will be provided to Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales for each individual project to improve security in areas particularly affected by acquisitive crimes such as burglary, vehicle theft and robbery.

Acting Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Police and Crime Commissioner Ray Bisby has been given £546,693.

Mr Bisby said: “I welcome the announcement that Cambridgeshire is set to receive additional funding from the Home Office to prevent residential burglaries. To ensure that the funding has a long lasting effect on those affected by these crimes, the money will be used for interventions which will make sure those who feel vulnerable where they live have support they need to make their homes safer.

“I am grateful for the ongoing support of partners from across the public and voluntary sector in developing this bid and look forward to working together to ensure our community reaps the benefits of this work.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “We are investing in a number of measures in the East of England to make our streets and neighbourhoods safer.

“I will not tolerate criminals inflicting fear and misery on communities, which is why I set up this fund to help prevent people falling victim to these crimes.”

Crime and Policing Minister, Kit Malthouse said: “Persistent street crime and burglary have a corrosive effect on a neighbourhood, leaving people apprehensive about leaving their homes, and afraid of what they might encounter when they return.

“But simple modifications like better street lighting or CCTV can do a lot to prevent crime.

“So alongside more focussed thief-taking by the police, these projects should have a big impact on the communities hardest hit by burglars, robbers and villains in general.”

Crime Prevention Leads from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Roger Hirst and Keith Hunter, said: “Today’s Safer Streets Fund announcement represents positive news for communities across England and Wales.

“This funding will support PCCs and their community safety partners to effectively deliver crime reduction activities that will prevent and reduce crimes such as burglary and robbery in the areas that need it most.”