Funding boost to lock out crime

VULNERABLE people in Oldham are set to be given extra help to secure properties from burglary.

Victim Support has been promised £182,983 to help older people, students and at risk young adults in Oldham and five other boroughs to increase home security with devices such as window locks.

The money is part of a £6 million Safer Homes Fund which pays for local handymen to visit up to 45,000 homes across 93 priority areas in the UK.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said: “These grants will help make the homes of thousands of people more secure and show them the simple steps they can take to protect themselves.

“This is just one part of a wider strategy which includes providing more money and resources to 35 areas to tackle burglary and robbery by cracking down on known offenders.

“We are also supplying free information packs for the public with money off vouchers on home security devices.”

“Burglary has fallen nationally by 54 per cent since 1997 but there are always changing patterns in crime. We know that during economic downturns certain crimes face upward pressure but we are already taking action to tackle this issue.

“Preventing burglary can be as simple as locking your doors and windows, yet 18 per cent of people don’t have proper door locks and 14 per cent don’t have window locks.”