Decision Summary
In April 2022, Cleveland’s OPCC was notified of its successful application for Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) Funding from the Home Office over 3 years. This resulted in the establishment of the ‘Cleveland Unit for the Reduction of Violence’ (CURV), which was tasked with the role of bringing together all partners and stakeholders to develop and deliver an intelligence led strategy aimed at reducing serious violence throughout Cleveland through a Public Health approach.
In August 2022 and following agreement with the CURV Governance Group, the OPCC launched a £500,000 funding opportunity for interventions to support the reduction of violent crime (PCC launches £500,000 fund for interventions to reduce violent crime). As part of this funding stream, Hartlepool Borough Council succeeded in securing £30,585 to support the implementation of a crime prevention plan that was focussed on the Night-Time Economy (NTE).
Subsequent to Hartlepool Borough Council’s success, the Borough Councils of Redcar & Cleveland, Stockton and Middlesbrough were all invited to review their NTE crime prevention plans and submit applications for CURV funding as appropriate.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council submitted an application for £28,760.28 to support their NTE Crime Prevention Plan, which was based around five strands of activity, including:
- NTE Safety Campaign. The campaign is planned around the ‘Ask for Angela’ initiative, with funding to help improve awareness.
- Engagement (Community/Business). The council will engage with the Borough’s business community to promote ‘Ask for Angela’, to encourage crime prevention activity and reporting of crime as well as promote the PCC’s COPA app.
- Training. Training will be provided to licensed premise staff in support of the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign, and restaurants, takeaways, and transport services will be offered/provided awareness training.
- Redcar CCTV Control Room. Additional CCTV staff will be employed to cover peak times.
- Redcar Beacons. Support will be offered to assist in the relaunch of the dedicated street-based volunteer group.
The application from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council was assessed by CURV to ensure consistency with Hartlepool Borough Council’s application, and after a series of follow up questions were answered, the application was approved for a 4-month period from the 1st December 2022 – 31st March 2023.