FLY-TIPPING prevention schemes and funding for Worcestershire Pride are two of the ways in which West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner spent his budget.

John Campion, who was re-elected to the role in May, helps fund crime prevention and community projects across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Initiatives funded in south Worcestershire in 2022/23 are highlighted in papers going before Worcester City Council’s Communities committee next week.

They include £15,000 to the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership for fly-tipping initiatives, including working with landlords to reduce the risk of illegal dumping.

The commissioner has also made £87,710 available for work reducing ‘acquisitive crime’, which includes burglaries.

A 12-month project raising public awareness of hate crimes and encouraging people to report them was awarded £56,000 by Mr Campion.

Worcester Street Pastors, a church-led response to issues in the city centre, was given £5,200.

The commissioner awarded £9,197 towards the salary of a regional manager at the charity Crimestoppers, who is expected to deliver three anti-crime campaigns a year.

Mr Campion gave £38,889 to the Dawn Project, which offers support to the victims of domestic abuse.

A further £10,000 went towards helping to safeguard adults at risk of exploitation in Worcestershire. The cash was helping West Mercia Police employ a temporary exploitation development officer.

The South Worcestershire Primary Schools Tag Rugby got £3,550 to strengthen the relationship between police and children in the community.

A thermal imaging camera was bought for £2,500 to provide “rural crime prevention and community reassurance” and extra crime-prevention items were bought for £1,946, to help safeguard victims and make them feel safe in their homes.

Worcestershire Pride was awarded £2,000 towards its cultural events.

The commissioner awarded £600 to Steer Clear, a programme run by The Children’s Society to reduce knife-related crime among 10 to 17-year-olds.

Wicketz Worcestershire, which uses cricket to engage with difficult-to-reach young people, was given £5,000 and speed indicator devices were bought for a number of communities including Droitwich, Bishampton and Throckmorton, Ripple and Upton.

The commissioner’s office said residents in south Worcestershire also benefitted from West Mercia-wide projects.