Pawsome Pensions were one charity to receive funding
The Police (Property) Regulations are a statutory requirement to deal with money and other property which comes into the possession of the police in connection with criminal charges or handed in by members of the public. After one year these items can be sold and the proceeds distributed amongst charitable organisations.
Responsibility for the allocation of the funding sits with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). All awards from the fund must be for charitable purposes only.
Organisations that benefited this year include Devon and Cornwall Watch Association receiving £30,000 and a donation of £10,000 for road safety through the national charity, BRAKE.
EDP Drug and Alcohol Services received £30,000 for the ‘departure lounge’ initiative at Exeter Prison, a new approach to the release of prisoners with practical support on offer before they leave such as charging phones, handing out smart and clean clothes that can be used for interviews and arranging transport home. Vital support for housing and employment is also available.
Other charities that have received funding are the national modern slavery helpline, Unseen, the street pastors scheme for Devon and Cornwall, Cornwall Community Foundation and Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH). The charity that helps fund the retirement of emergency services dogs, Pawsome Pensions, has also received a donation of £2500.
Police Constable Vikki Ritchie from Pawsome Pensions welcomed the donation. She said: “The funding we have received has really helped us to develop the scheme and enable more dogs to receive the care they deserve in their retirement including any ongoing treatment they might need and the cost of vet bills. This donation will be used to continue our work in protecting those dogs after all their hard work protecting our officers and communities.”
It has been decided that the focus on funding for 2020/21 will be on organisations that tackle anti-social behaviour and connectivity between the police and the community, victim services, road safety and drugs and alcohol services.
There will also be a focus on recovering community cohesion following the pandemic and connectivity between the police and the community.