Over £80,000 of additional funding has been awarded to reducing reoffending and making communities safer by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

Charities, organisations and partners were again able to bid for projects that work with offenders to help integrate them back into the community and avoid a return into the criminal justice system.

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Four projects received over £80,000 in total towards their projects which were chosen due to helping the Commissioner deliver his Police and Crime Plan priorities.

Since launching the fund in 2018, the reducing reoffending fund has supported dozens of projects which work with ex-offenders and address the root causes of offending, through group work, one-to-one sessions and other support.

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This has seen around £400,000 invested back into communities and dedicated organisations to help deliver this work.

Ultimately, this tackles crime and builds safer communities whilst also reducing strain on emergency services and also the cost that comes from a cycle of offending.

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The Commissioner said: “Since launching the fund over two years ago, I have been really impressed with the quality of applications the projects which have been making a real difference up and down the county, and the enthusiasm that we have seen to continue this work going forward.

“Policing alone cannot prevent people reoffending and that is why I continue to support initiatives that break the cycle offenders all too often find themselves trapped in, moving them away from a life of crime.

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“I have seen first-hand the difference these projects make in our neighbourhoods and in the lives of the people who live there.

“Tackling crime and reoffending is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan and by working with partners to support the delivery of these projects we are helping people turn their lives around.”

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Paul Withers, Independent Chair of the Local Reducing Reoffending Boards said: “Breaking the cycle of offending is not an easy task and requires a highly coordinated approach.

“This is why the boards are working hard to identify local issues and bringing organisations together to address the risk posed to our communities.

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“This approach has been a factor in supporting the projects identified when allocating this funding.

“It is really important that we continue to work in a coordinated way and that is an important part of my role as Independent Chair.”

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