£1.4m in partnership funding secured, says Cambridgeshire police and crime commissioner Darryl Preston as he marks anniversary

paul.brackley@iliffemedia.co.uk

Published: 07:21, 10 May 2022

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The police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Darryl Preston, has marked his first year in the job by confirming that more than £1.4million of additional funding has been secured during the period.

Partnership bids have included just under £560,000 over two years for an additional eight specially trained staff to support the most vulnerable victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Cambridgeshire police and crime commissioner Darryl Preston with Chris Barron, investigations officer for the Security Industry Authority, walking the streets of Cambridge discussing safer streets for women and girls. Picture: Keith Heppell

Together with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, just over £471,000 was secured from the Home Office’s Safer Streets fund to keep the county’s streets safe.

And more than £300,000 was granted from the Home Office Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Fund to tackle domestic abuse and stalking.

Just under £19,000 was secured to help support male victims of rape; nearly £100,000 was funded by the Ministry of Justice to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse and child sexual abuse with a specialist stalking and harassment IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Adviser), while the commissioner awarded £190,000 to organisations which work to tackle and prevent further crime.

Crime statistics suggests such funding is much needed, with 387 violent and sexual crimes reported in Cambridge in February 2022 alone, 614 in South Cambridgeshire and 122 in East Cambridgeshire.

“It has been an incredibly busy and rewarding year,” said Mr Preston.

“From the introduction of a new community scrutiny panel which monitors the way in which officers carry out their work to ensure they act to the very highest standards, to tougher sentencing for illegal hare coursers, it is clear progress is being made against the priorities I outlined in my Police and Crime Plan.

The first recruits to join Cambridgeshire Constabulary under the police constable degree apprenticeship, introduced under the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF), had their passing out parade on March 21, 2022, and were welcomed by Chief Constable Nick Dean and Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston. Picture: Cambridgeshire police

“I have also announced a project to provide rape survivors an opportunity to shape police services, worked with partners to keep our streets safer for women and girls and welcomed a new dog abduction law which takes into account the emotional distress caused to both owner and dog.

“Lastly, but certainly not least, in Cambridgeshire we have a record number of officers - 1,714 expected by March 2023.

“The work certainly doesn’t stop here. I am just as determined to continue to listen and represent the views of our county and all of the communities living and working within it. I will continue to deliver against my Police and Crime Plan with a sole aim of keeping people in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough safe.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during my first year and look forward to serving the county for the next two years.”

Cambridge Crime East Cambridgeshire South Cambridgeshire Paul Brackley