John F Kennedy famously said: “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”. My forthcoming Police and Crime Plan poses the same question except with reference to the COUNTY of Bedfordshire rather than the COUNTRY of the United States.
My challenge to the people of Bedfordshire is to join with their police to forge an unbreakable partnership that will deliver a safer county, where it is the offenders who will be afraid rather than the law-abiding majority.
Whether it is as a Special Constable (or a Police Cadet for those aged 16-18) or a Neighbourhood Watch member or possibly as a volunteer PCSO, there are plenty of opportunities for the county’s residents to link up in partnership with the police.
One of the tools that I have available to support building the strong partnership I envisage is my Community Safety Fund. This is a source of funding that replaces many of the current Home Office drugs, crime, youth offending and community safety funding streams that come to an end this month. Those who previously received this funding may apply but equally so can other groups and organisations who can demonstrate how their proposals deliver the three strands of my plan, which are: Protecting the public, Partnership working, Preventing crime.
I am particularly interested in promoting collaborative working across organisations. Applicants should also seeking, or have secured, matched funding from other sources.
Deadline for applications is 29 March 2013. Forging a stronger link between the people and their police I am confident we can make our county safer even in austere times.
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