Angelique Foster, Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, has awarded community and voluntary groups across the county a share of more than £115k to support her efforts to combat anti-social behaviour.
A total of 25 organisations are set to benefit in the fourth round of the Commissioner's Anti-social Behaviour Prevention Grant scheme, each receiving up to £5k to help tackle the nuisance problems that blight their communities.
Tackling ASB is a key priority in the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan and the improvements she has made since her election have secured further support from the Government.
The Commissioner launched her Anti-Social Behaviour Prevention Grant scheme shortly after taking office to increase investment in community-based preventative work and empower residents to take a proactive approach to resolving local issues.
Since then, significant funds have been allocated to help partners take a stand against nuisance behaviour. This investment continues to deliver results, with ASB reports falling a further 15 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March 2023 according to the latest figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).
Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster said: "ASB impacts residents across our county. It is unacceptable that any resident - urban or rural - must put up with this behaviour at the expense of their quality of life and mental wellbeing.
"I know my grant scheme is helping - ASB has fallen 47.5 per cent across the county since my election in May 2021 - but there is much more to do to give our communities the support and resources they need to combat these problems in the future.
"We must stand together to make our communities safer. Since my election, I have consistently pushed the force to take stronger enforcement action against ASB and nuisance issues which erode quality of life.
This has ensured the delivery of more patrols where they are needed most, and I continue to invest in initiatives that tackle problems at their source and are proven to provide residents with the redress and relief they need to feel and be safe."
Among the projects to have successfully secured grants is Me, My Mind and I CIC who have been awarded £3,210 for 12 months. The organisation carries out its work in Ilkeston and Heanor and works to combat santi-social behaviour by delivering “how the mind works” to all students at Parkside High CIC – one session per week for 6 weeks. They will also liaise with the Deputy Principle at Ilkeston Ormiston Academy to assess which students would be appropriate for “how the mind works” and discuss how the project is delivered.
The programme will work with disruptive teens to help them understand their emotional & mental needs, regain control over their actions prior to acting or responding to their thoughts & equipping them with life skills to regulate emotions & actions.