Greater Manchester Police have announced that they are launching the largest Participatory Budgeting initiative in the North West, working closely with communities to identify new ways to prevent crime and improve safety.

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a method of managing public money in which community members directly decide how to spend money in their area.

Funding has been provided from GMP and local authorities as part of public service reform which hands the decision-making directly to local residents, businesses and voluntary groups.

The project has been embraced by all 11 policing areas of Greater Manchester and neighbourhood teams within each are working closely with local authorities, healthcare and other emergency services and local organisations.

GMP has made more than £150,000 directly available to support the initiative with partners bringing match funding which has significantly increased the funds available.

For example in South Manchester, £30,000 of police funding has been secured in Wythenshawe and Longsight, which has then been matched by an additional £30,000 from Manchester City Council.

In order to prepare for the scheme rollout, the force has been collaborating with an expert consultancy, running training sessions throughout 2014, with PB programmes going live from November. Dedicated teams of PCSOs, supported by Inspectors and Neighbourhood Policing Teams are coordinating the PB judging events, due to take place in January 2015.

Each policing area is following its own format for the participatory budgeting events. For example, in Stockport they are taking the decisions out on the street, asking residents which initiatives will reduce crime and improve wellbeing. Other areas are holding community events, where ideas can be pitched to other residents before being put to a public vote.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said:

“Our participatory budgeting plan is one of the biggest of its kind – a coordinated initiative to reduce the influence of criminal activity and fear of crime in communities across Greater Manchester.

“We know that the police alone cannot stop crime from happening, but where police and local residents work together we are in the very best position to help reduce that crime and the anti-social behaviour which affects our lives.

“Our aim is to increase the participation of local people in both the design and running of schemes that impact upon levels of crime and disorder, so it’s really important that we listen to the opinions and ideas of the communities we want to improve.

“Participatory budgeting gives local residents the opportunity to have that voice and actively make their neighbourhood a safer place – a really powerful mix of partnership working and community-centric policing.

“We look forward to hearing from and working closely with our local residents throughout 2015 and beyond.”

For details of Participatory Budgeting events in your area, please contact your local neighbourhood team. Details available on www.gmp.police.uk.

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