Regional Information - East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside

Field Officer - Chris McLean

	January 2010
	Sheffield District has used monies seized as part of the Proceeds Of Crime Act (POCA) to allocate funds back to the communities who furnished the initial information.  £44,000 has been allocated so far in Sheffield alone. A panel made up from the local community and the Local Neighbourhood Policing Teams meet to vote on the initiative they would like to propose for funding. Further checks are then carried out to explore the evidence of need before funds are allocated. The funds are allocated if the initiative can meet the following criteria;   •    one off projects  •    present a clear community benefit •    if possible, aligned to PACT priorities for the area •    ideally, the type of project which do not already receive large scale funding from other sources •    marketed as the product of POCA monies  i.e. payback •    aiming for an even spread across the district. Examples so far include providing a new storage container for 100 users of Windmill Lane allotments, as the previous one has been attacked so many times by drug users, and providing inflatable football pitches for kids in Fir Vale for ten weeks on an open space traditionally used by drug suppliers. This process creates a virtuous cycle for the local community, who inform their Neighbourhood Policing team of the criminal behaviour, action is taken and seizures made, empowerment is given to influence funding and reparation to the community is made.  Ultimately, the public feel that justice has been done; they can influence funding allocation and achieve desired outcomes. For more information, contact Iain Chorlton of South Yorkshire Police. Field Officer Contact Details: E-mail: chris.mclean@npia.pnn.police.uk Mobile: 07702 526 276

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