Government gives cash pledge to beat yobs Policing Minister Tony McNulty has pledged to look at increasing Government funding for crime-busting community schemes after he visited Preston. The minister was speaking to the Evening Post while being taken on a police tour of the Larches and Savick estates during a break from Labour Party conference in Manchester.
He spoke to community leaders and local bobbies who explained how various multi-agency initiatives had successfully reduced anti-social behaviour in the area.
Mr McNulty said: "These sorts of projects are allowing local people to reclaim the streets from the yobs who want to hang out on the streets regardless of their actions on others.
"It's very impressive to see the tremendous work these people have managed with limited support and I will be looking to see if more funding can be made available."
He made the comments after the area's Police and Communities Together (PACT) chairman Andy Lee spoke of the difficulty in securing long-term funding for projects.
Mr Lee said: "There used to be a single pot of money and applying for funding was simple but that has gone now so we spend all our time looking for cash from various sources."
During Mr McNulty's tour he was shown the Starrgate Community Centre that hosts various youth projects and has a police surgery for residents.
A successful scheme using a mosquito box to rid the Co-op shop on Norbreck Drive of anti-social behaviour was also highlighted.
Sgt Ian Mills, from Lea police, said: "Some people were too intimidated to use the shop before the box was put up so it has been a massive success."
Julie Bell, chairman of the Larches and Savick Community Association, praised community beat managers and community support officers in the area for working with children on the estate to build trust.
Author - Publication Preston Today Date 28 September 2006 Link www.lep.co.uk
