A FUND designed to reward organisations that help keep their community safe has been launched by the police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire, Angus Macpherson.

The Community Action Fund was launched last week with a pot of £40,000 set aside to benefit community that meet the priorities in the commissioner’s police and crime plan.

Organisations can apply for a share of the fund if they believe they can demonstrate an increased participation from communities, promote community safety or have established projects that demonstrate a reduction in rural crime.

The commissioner said: “I am really pleased to be launching this new fund.

"I am a firm believer that policing is the responsibility of the whole community, so when I was re-elected I wanted to create a fund that would empower communities and give them more opportunity to help keep themselves safe.

“As a rural county, Wiltshire is affected by a number of crimes that you don’t see in towns and cities, but have a big impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.

“It was important to me that this fund embraced the rurality of Wiltshire, and encouraged our rural communities to become involved, as we are all working to the same goal to tackle and reduce crime.

"This fund is about supporting local ideas which will make a lasting difference and help to keep communities safe.”

Applications are being sought from the voluntary and community sectors.

For more information and details of how to apply, go to wiltshire-pcc.gov.uk