Crime cash to be used for recreation ground facelift

Fiona Evans

CASH clawed back from criminals is being used to help a community project in Sowerby Bridge.

Dec-the-Rec, which is a project set up to improve facilities at Beach Road recreation ground to prevent anti-social behaviour, has been given 2,000.

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The money was granted through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) after it was taken away from convicted criminals who had been profiting from their criminal lifestyles.

Det Sgt Bill Hargreaves, from the Calderdale POCA team, said: “The Proceeds of Crime Act is a powerful tool that ensures criminals don’t get away with funding a lifestyle that has been made from crime.

“The money obtained from criminals has now gone back into the community. We hope this money will go some way to improving facilities for the local community which can be enjoyed by everyone.”

Dec-the-Rec will now use the money for the benefit of the community to spruce up facilities at the recreation ground.

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The cash will be spent on improving lighting and fencing in the park. Back in 2008 Beach Road recreation ground was in a state of disrepair and the local community was concerned about anti-social behaviour in the area.

Residents wanted something to be done and responding to those concerns police officers stepped up patrols in the area to deter troublemakers.

But they also looked for longer term solutions to the problem of anti-social behaviour. The Dec-the-Rec project was formed after Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Carolyn Endeacott set about approaching teenagers, local people and community groups in the area to see what could be done.

The group includes representation from schools, Calderdale Council, Sowerby Bridge Forum as well as police and residents.