Windfall for anti-knife crime project
September 13th 2009
Southampton’s Labour MPs John Denham and Alan Whitehead has welcomed a £13,400 windfall for a local anti-knife crime project funded by cash and assets seized from wealthy criminals.
The Be Safe- Weapons Awareness Project has received national recommendation for its work on educating young people and adults on the consequences of knife crime. Today’s windfall will enable the project to visit and work with young people at secondary school, youth clubs, secure care homes and other venues across the city.
Labour’s Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced the £4 million Community Cashback fund, which gives local people a direct say on how criminal assets are spent in the fight against crime and antisocial behaviour.
More than 45,000 members of the public voted on 1,225 community projects via a dedicated website, neighbourhood policing meetings and through Citizens’ Panels.
Alan Johnson MP, Labour’s Home Secretary said:
“It is only right that criminals are made to payback for their crimes. The Community Cashback fund ensures some of their ill gotten gains are ploughed back into local communities.
“Seizing assets deprives criminals of money, reduces the incentive for crime and promotes fairness and confidence in the criminal justice system. I’m glad so many people have got involved either by putting forward plans to improve their neighbourhoods or voting for their favourite project.
“This a concrete example of the Labour Government enabling communities to come together and turn the proceeds of crime into benefits for the many instead. It's the practical application of Labour values."
Alan Whitehead MP said:
“Education projects are another useful tool in our work to tackle violent crime. Of course we also need tough and effective sentencing, but projects like this one can be just as valuable in the long term, by using the personal testimony of people who have been involved in knife crime to turn others away from going down the same road.
John Denham MP said:
“The Community Cashback scheme is one of a range of projects set up under Labour which gives communities a greater say in how justice is delivered.
“The Tories have dismissed these schemes as gimmicks but I think the people of Southampton will know this is not a gimmick and will look forward to using this money.”
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