Column | PCC Mark Shelford – 15/08/2023

I want to start by discussing the recently opened Preventing Victims Fund and encourage services who support victims to apply for a grant of up to £20,000.

The Preventing Victims Fund is being delivered in partnership between the Office and the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), Somerset Community Foundation and the Quartet Community Foundation.

This fund aims to complement groups already providing services to victims of crime, enabling them to explore different approaches that could prevent people from becoming victims in the first place. Preventing crime is the single most important thing I want to achieve through my Police and Crime Plan so it’s important we hear from as many support services as possible who want to help us make our communities safer.

The expression of interest deadline is 5pm on Friday 25 August. Successful expressions of interest groups will then be asked to complete a full application in September with successful applicants then receiving a grant in December 2023.

Earlier this month, I was out and about in Bath and North East Somerset as part of my weekly engagements. I visited P.E.O.P.L.E (Providing Ex-Offenders Positive Learning Environments), which is a charity that offers support to low-risk ex-offenders that have recently left prison. The charity provides supported housing, advice on employability, benefit claims, education and training, as well as many other factors that can assist in resettling people back into the community.

I also met with Project 28, a young people drug and alcohol service in the area. The service provides advice, guidance and one-to-one sessions for young people who are having problems with drugs and alcohol. Support is free and confidential, and aims to provide a flexible and non-judgemental space for young people to be open about the problems they are facing.

While it was certainly a busy day, it was brilliant to meet so many varied community groups who go above and beyond to support local people.

Many of the people who work or volunteer for these organisations often have lived experiences and I want to say a massive thank you to them for making a difference to residents in the city.

Lastly, as many of you might be heading off on holiday or booking last minute trips, I want tor remind you to continue to be aware of holiday scams.

Fraudsters can create fake adverts on search engines and social media to make victims believe they are booking holidays and trips through a trustworthy and legitimate website, but often it is a scammer impersonating genuine firms.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately. You can also report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or anonymously on their website.