Milton Keynes could benefit from a share of £150 million of new funding made available through the Conservative Government’s Safer Streets Fund, and the local MPs are encouraging a bid.
This additional funding from the fourth round of the Safer Streets Fund will go towards measures proven to tackle neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls, and – for the first time – anti-social behaviour.
This will help to prevent potential perpetrators committing crimes in the first place, improving the safety of our streets and helping our communities to flourish as we build back safer.
The Safer Streets Programme provides funding to areas most affected by crime and anti-social behaviour and will allow local authorities, civil society organisations and police and crime commissioners to bid for up to £500k per year for each project. The latest round of the fund targets neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls and – for the first time – anti-social behaviour.
Last year the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner secured almost £1 million from the last round of the Safer Streets Fund, and local MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart are keen to ensure another bid is forthcoming which would benefit Milton Keynes.
Iain Stewart, the MP for Milton Keynes South, said: ““I am determined to see crime in our community fall, which is why I am encouraging Thames Valley Police to apply for new funding from the fourth round of our Safer Streets Fund.
“This round of funding will look to tackle neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls, and anti-social behaviour to help ensure everyone feels safe in their local community.”
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes South, commented: “I am determined to ensure we tackle crime in Milton Keynes and on top of getting more police officers on our streets, it’s important we make the most of grants like the Safer Streets Fund to make MK safer.
“The focus of this round of the Safer Streets Fund on neighbourhood crime, violence against women and girls, and anti-social behaviour and I know these are issues my constituents are concerned about.”
Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, added: “Our local communities are the beating hearts of the UK and I want our streets to be safe for everyone to go about their daily lives without fear inflicted on them by criminals.
“The Safer Streets fund improves the safety and security of areas blighted by crime and helps the police and local councils ensure that everyone is safe on our streets, going to the shops, seeing friends. It also prevents potential perpetrators committing such crimes in the first place so our communities are able to flourish.”
