A SPECIAL fund designed to redirect proceeds of crime into projects which help the community is being relaunched.

Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall is re-opening the so-called 'property fund' and inviting organisations, charities and local voluntary groups to apply for up to £2,500.

The property fund re-invests money seized from criminal activity and distributes it into local projects, new initiatives and diversionary activities that engage in community interventions and initiatives that help to reduce crime in Cumbria.

Peter McCall said: “Helping to support projects that engage in community initiatives and interventions to reduce crime is a key priority of mine.

"Over the last five years we have invested £187,965 from the property fund, back into community projects.

“As a requirement, grant applications should be for projects or activities which help to reduce crime and disorder in Cumbria and link in with one or more of the objectives in the Police and Crime Plan, which can be found on our website: Property Fund - Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (cumbria-pcc.gov.uk).

“The fund can help to make a real difference and often provides the much-needed boost for updating resources and helping provide new kit and equipment for sporting activities for example.

“We will support early intervention programmes that support the reduction in the risk of offending and reoffending, and also projects that work with groups such as young people, elderly, those with a disability, ethnic minority groups and other excluded communities.”

In 1973, the Powers of Criminal Courts Act (POCA) gave Police and Crime Commissioners the power to distribute money from the property fund which is created from proceeds of the sale of items that cannot be returned to identified owners, which includes seizures from criminals.

This means that money seized from convicted criminals under POCA is re-invested back into local communities.

Former winners of funds have come from communities ranging from Plumpton, Ulverston, Maryport and Brampton.

In 2019, funding was awarded to Barrow AFC, enabling the club to purchase an inflatable football arena and give a 16-week coaching programme for young people in Barrow town centre.

The next closing date for applications is February 21 2022.