By Joshua Robinson – 

More than half a million pounds seized from criminals has been awarded to a range of organisations working to make West Yorkshire communities safer.

The funds, which were handed out by the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin at an event held in Dewsbury Minster on Wednesday 11th September, will support 68 projects across all of the region’s five districts.

Amongst the grant recipients was Focus4Hope, a Calderdale-based organisation that supports vulnerable people and those in need across West Yorkshire. The Mayor’s funding will allow them to provide additional support for women and children feeling domestic abuse.

Louise Reed, the founder and CEO of Focus4Hope, said: “This money will help us to support women and families who have fled difficult and violent situations. It will allow them to rebuild their life and begin their journey in their new home.”

“We are so thankful to receive funding from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund to help us continue our work supporting the most vulnerable in Calderdale.”

The latest round of the Mayor’s Safer Community Fund, which uses cash and assets seized from criminals by police and prosecutors under the Proceeds of Crime Act, saw groups and organisations awarded grants of up to £10,000 from a total pot of up to £581,541.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “It is humbling to be able to support so many fantastic organisations working to make our region a safer, fairer place.”

“The reason we choose to reinvest this money taken from criminals is the huge difference these projects can make to the lives of people they support in our communities.”

“I look forward to visiting more of these organisations over the coming year to find out more about their work and want to thank West Yorkshire Police once again for helping to make the fund possible.”

The money is made available largely thanks to the efforts of the force’s Economic Crime Unit, which is responsible for tracking down criminal ill-gotten gains through offences such as fraud and drug dealing.

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins QPM DL, said: “Our officers and staff work hard to reduce crime across West Yorkshire and seizing assets from convicted criminals is a way of making them realise that crime does not pay.”

“I am always delighted to see these ill-gotten gains being put back into our communities to make them safer places, and would encourage local groups and projects to apply for this funding which can help to bring their plans to fruition.”

Since its inception in 2021, the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund has handed out a total of £3.04m to 357 local projects.

The fund’s next grant round is due to open on Monday 11th November. For more information, please visit https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/policing-and-crime/mayor-s-safer-communities-fund/

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