Local MP Kemi Badenoch welcomes £1.16 million funding boost to tackle serious violence in Essex
A special unit designed to help tackle serious violence and prevent young people in Essex being drawn into it will receive £1.16 million.
The funding will be invested in Violence Reduction Units, which bring together organisations across local communities to tackle violent crime and address its underlying causes, as well as also funding vital local projects doing positive preventative work with children and young people.
And Saffron Walden constituency MP Kemi Badenoch said she welcomed the announcement that Essex Police is receiving the funding as one of the 18 areas across England and Wales, getting a share of the £35.5 million total. Mrs Badenoch has previously successfully pushed for an additional 135 officers in Essex Police.
The allocation brings the total funding targeted at violent crime up to £105 million and is the third year in a row where the Government has invested in the areas worst affected by serious violence.
In addition to this funding, more than £2 million is being made available via a winter contingency fund package. This money is being delivered through VRUs to local charities and social enterprises that support vulnerable young people at risk of involvement in violence through the lockdown period.
The money forms part of a wider government drive to tackle crime and make communities safer, which includes bringing in 20,000 additional police officers over the next three years, 6,620 of which have already been recruited.
Commenting, Mrs Badenoch said:
“I welcome the announcement that Essex Police will receive an extra £1.16 million to tackle the violent crime.
“This funding will help bring together organisations across our communities to tackle violent crime and address its underlying causes, as well as funding vital local projects that do positive preventative work with children and young people.
“I recently spoke with Essex County Council regarding youth organisations within the constituency who also play a crucial role in support our young people.
“By backing Essex Police with the funding, powers and resources they need, we are keeping the public and our communities in Chelmsford and Uttlesford safe.”
