Police hand cash seized off criminals to community

Cash seized from criminals has paid for new security measures at a Preston community centre.
Clive Grunshaw meets Intact users in Preston. Cash has been given from POCA for new security measuresClive Grunshaw meets Intact users in Preston. Cash has been given from POCA for new security measures
Clive Grunshaw meets Intact users in Preston. Cash has been given from POCA for new security measures

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw visited the Intact Centre, on Whitby Avenue, Ingol, to see how £13,853 recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act is helping to tackle crime in the area.

The Ingol and Tanterton Community Trust (Intact), which has been broken into and targeted by vandals in recent months, was one of 15 organisations to get a share of almost £500,000 in February.

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The money has paid for CCTV cameras, gates and shutters on the windows.

Mr Grunshaw said: “I am pleased to see that money taken from criminals in Lancashire has been used to help tackle crime and make this neighbourhood safer.

“I have seen first-hand what an asset the building and the people who work there are to the community and it is disappointing a small minority of people have not shown them the respect they deserve.

“But I am committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Lancashire and this grant gives Intact the security to continue its good work with the residents of Ingol and Tanterton.”

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More than 90 applications, totalling around £3.6m, were received under the Commissioner’s POCA scheme. Grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 were awarded to those that met set criteria.

Iain Mackie, young persons’ services manager at Intact, said having a secure building was important. He added: “This funding has already enabled us to identify people committing anti-social behaviour around the premises will be a deterrent for any further damage to the centre.”