Project to tackle organised crime to be reviewed

A project to help tackle organised crime and make people feel safer in part of a city is facing funding challenges.

The Alliance project in the Millfield and Lincoln Road area of Peterborough was formed in 2023 through the Home Office's Clear, Hold and Build strategy.

It is essentially a framework for the police, partner agencies and the local community to best utilise their existing resources, as opposed to receiving bespoke funding.

A report to be put before a council scrutiny committee on 10 July said there was "limited capacity and interest within community groups" to engage with the project.

In 2022, the Millfield and Lincoln Road was chosen as the project area after it identified as a suitable location.

Joint enforcement between the police and council has seen several successful measures, including the seizure of cigarettes and vapes, cash and a number of closure orders on premises in the Lincoln Road area.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said cases included the seizure of 700,000 cigarettes with a value of £200,000, 20,000 vapes at a value of between £20,000 and £40,000 and £115,000 in cash.

The report added: "Whilst there have been pockets of work on specific projects, it remains challenging to gain more widespread community involvement.

"There is no funding available from the Home Office to develop projects or initiatives. This makes investing in community-based projects difficult to achieve unless external grant funding opportunities can be identified."

Recommendations for the delivery of the project included a review of the current structure, open face-to-face meetings within the community and remapping of the geographical area for Alliance.

The council's economy, inclusive growth and environment scrutiny committee is recommended to review and comment on the progress of Alliance to date and review the future delivery of the project.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.