Criminal assets to be put to good use in NI communities

Money that's been confiscated from criminals here is going to be put to good use.

50 projects are set to benefit from £1.8m that's been seized under the Assets Recovery Community Scheme (ARCS).

The Department of Justice says the money will be used to tackle crime and the fear of crime in communities across Northern Ireland.

It takes the total funding support through ARCS to over £5m since the scheme began in 2012.

The approved projects include educating older people about scams, support for offenders, and training programmes for young people and those with addictions. There are also schemes aimed at interventions and diversionary activities for young people and support for law enforcement to deliver community safety awareness and help people feel safer in their homes.

Anthony Harbinson, Director of Safer Communities Department of Justice, said: “I am delighted to announce funding for 50 projects. ARCS funding underpins the Department’s commitment to keeping communities safe, to reducing crime and the fear of crime, and to addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.

"The support available through this scheme is the result of the successful prosecution and convictions of criminals. This money will make a real difference in supporting people who want to work for the good of their community."

Public sector bodies and voluntary and community sector organisations were invited to bid for a share of the funding. Applicants were required to demonstrate how their proposals would meet the essential ARCS criteria of preventing crime or reducing the fear of crime and how they would directly benefit victims, communities or the environment.

There were 187 applications received for the limited pot of funding.