Around £1 million will be invested into projects in Bedfordshire to tackle neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls (VAWG) and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye has secured the funding from the fifth round of the Safer Streets project.

The Home Office awarded Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) £42m nationally, through the Safer Streets Fund.

The project is also hoping to build on the successes of previous rounds, whilst also incorporating learnings and feedback.

The scheme will run for an 18-month period between October 2023 and March 2025.

Projects set to be funded include a targeted schools education programme that improves understanding of ASB and the impact it has, investment in local schemes like Neighbourhood Watch and interventions for young people about VAWG.

Mr Akinbusoye, who is also the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ joint national prevention lead, said: “I am delighted that police and crime commissioners have secured a further £42m of Safer Streets funding to complement their existing work targeting ASB, VAWG and neighbourhood crimes.

“The APCC has been instrumental in the delivery of this opportunity, gathering the views of PCCs and sharing them with the Home Office to inform how best to spend this funding.

“Prevention lies at the heart of our Police and Crime Plan. We are working with different groups and organisations here in Bedfordshire to reduce victims and increase feelings of safety in our communities. This new injection of funding will enable PCCs to build on these achievements and apply their local knowledge to deliver projects where they are most needed.”

Chief Superintendent Jackie Whittred, from Bedfordshire Police, said: “The Safer Streets scheme gives us the tools to run major prevention and early intervention projects around key crime types which concern our communities.

“From working with young people in schools and colleges through to targeted patrols in key areas affected by these crimes – this funding will help us provide visible reassurance and make long term change.

“We are fully supportive of this work and will work tirelessly alongside our partners to ensure Safer Streets continues to deliver a big impact across Bedfordshire.”

If you’d like to find out more about Safer Streets and previous projects, visit https://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/safer-streets/ or email pcc@beds.police.uk

If you’d like to know more about national Safer Streets funding visit APCC – The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (apccs.police.uk)