Derbyshire set for £1.4million boost to further increase public safety

Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster has welcomed news of a £1.4m grant to boost her work tackling the people's community safety priorities.

The Home Office has announced the launch of Round 5 of the Safer Streets Fund.

The scheme will run for an 18-month period between 1 October 2023 and 31 March 2025 and will build on current progress to tackle neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls (VAWG) and anti-social behaviour.

Derbyshire has been provisionally allocated £1.4m from a national pot worth £60m. The Commissioner will now submit detailed proposals to the Home Office setting out how she intends to invest the money to maximise public safety and reduce risk.

Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster said: "This additional funding is good news for the county. It will strengthen my own investment and focus on intrusive crimes that have a lasting and detrimental impact on victims.

"People deserve to feel safe whether at home or using our public spaces. Women should be able to live their lives without fear of violence. This is why ASB, neighbourhood crime and VAWG are key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan.

"I am determined to protect citizens and help catch more criminals. This funding will be prioritised in areas where need is greatest and where it can be used to deliver maximum results. I will be working closely with partners over the coming weeks to prepare our bid."

The Home Office has previously invested £120m across the first four Safer Streets schemes.

This is the first Safer Streets round in which funding is being directly awarded to Police and Crime Commissioners rather than competed for. However, Commissioners are still required to submit proposals to confirm they meet the requirements of the fund.