Five Derry groups shared £167k redistribution of crime proceeds

The organisations, which carry out important arts, youth diversion and community work from Galliagh to Top of the Hill, benefited from the redistributed funds over the past two years.

The monies were allocated through the Assets Recovery Community Scheme (ARCS)which was set up eight years ago and is designed to support projects that prevent crime or the fear of crime in local communities.

SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin asked the Justice Minister Naomi Long to provide details of all the organisations in the Foyle constituency that have received funding through ARCS over the last two years.

Mrs. Long replied that five organisations in Derry have received funding since 2018.

This had followed an open call for applications and that the funding had been allocated across three financial year periods, up to March 31, 2021, the Justice Minister indicated.

She stated: “The Top Ten Women’s Drama Group’s ‘Outside In’ project was allocated funding of £20,828 over a three year period (2018/19 to 2020/21.

“The Off the Streets Community Youth Initiative’s “City Centre Street Work Provision’ project was allocated funding of £57,627 over a three year period (2018/19 to 2020/21).

“The North West Play Resource Centre’s ‘Listen to Us’ film-making project was allocated funding of £66,770 over a three year period (2018/19 to 2020/21);

“The Leafair Community Association’s ‘Safer Communities’ project was allocated funding of £20,000 over a two year period (2018/19 to 2019/20.

“Hillcrest Trust’s ‘Law and Order Programme’ was allocated funding of £2,666 over a two year period (2018/19 to 2019/20).

“In addition there are a number of projects that were allocated funding under the current Scheme that operate on a NI-wide basis that are helping to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime and that are having a positive impact on the lives of people across many constituency areas.”

According to the Department of Justice (DoJ) the purpose of the ARCS funding is to “provide start-up funding to projects that will be ongoing, or one-off funding to time-limited projects”.

“To be eligible for funding projects must be designed to prevent crime or reduce the fear of crime and therefore contribute to a safe community where we respect the law, and each other,” the department stipulates.