Cash for anti-crime schemes

Schemes receive funding to keep people safe

Anti-crime schemes in Northern Ireland are to be given almost £2m to tackle anti-social behaviour.

A total of 17 community projects across 10 district council areas will receive a share in the funding over the next three years, Criminal Justice Minister John Spellar announced on Wednesday.

Among the projects to benefit are a drug and alcohol education project in north Down, town centre radio link schemes in Omagh and Ballyclare and a safe play area scheme in Banbridge.

Mr Spellar said the cash injection would provide a major boost to efforts to keep people safe and secure.

"The release of a second round of funding for local community safety projects is a concrete expressions of the government's unwavering commitment to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in our society and its continuing commitment to making Northern Ireland a safe and secure place for its people," he said.

The funding is linked to a community safety strategy launched in March 2003.

"That strategy promotes working in partnership to tackle crime, the fear of crime and increasing anti-social behaviour in our communities which makes people's lives a misery - particularly older people," he said.

Other projects to benefit are the East Armagh Summer Scheme; the Townscape project in Ballymoney; Kinallen Rural Watch, Banbridge; the Skatepark project in Coleraine; the City Centre Rangers in Londonderry; a community garden and play park in Larne; a schools community safety awareness project in Newtownabbey; a youth participation scheme in North Down and Project Linear Park also in the borough.

Three schemes will be funded in Lisburn - Springboard, a new community safety website and a children's safety scheme, Mask.

The minister said the number of applications for funding had been impressive and proved there was real interest in improving community safety.

"Community safety should be an integral part of any wider strategy for local areas with firm links to neighbourhood renewal, health and well-being, social inclusion and community development as well as the local policing plans," he added.