Police donate crime cash to homeless

West Yorkshire Police has donated the cash from the Proceeds of Crime Act to a church scheme which offers homeless people a place to sleep.

Chief Insp Owen West, who leads Citizen Focus at Bradford South police division, said: "I am pleased to use this money in helping some of our most vulnerable people, especially when that money has been seized from the criminals who prey on the vulnerability of others."

Through the scheme, each night one of seven churches supported by volunteers opens its doors to homeless people in Bradford – offering eight people a bed, hot dinner and breakfast.

Those booking into the project must have a referral and cannot be on bail, be drunk or on drugs or bring either drink or drugs on to the premises.

The cash provided by West Yorkshire Police will be used to transport beds and equipment between the churches.

Canon Sam Randall, of Bradford Diocese, said: "We are thankful to the police departmentfor investing their proceeds fromcrime into a project that is meeting a basic human need: shelter and food for those with nohome of their own."