Crime Reduction Programme BCU Fund Guidance 2005-2006
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Download: Home Office Circular 17/2005 
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HOC 17/2005 | 23 March 2005 |
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This Circular is about: The £50 million Basic Command Unit (BCU) Fund 2005 – 2006 | |
From: Crime Strategy and Resources Unit, Home Office | Expiry Date: 31 March 2006 |
Effective from: 1 April 2005 | |
For general information about this circular contact (from 4 April 2005): Sarah Taylor Tel: 020 7035 0161 | This Circular is addressed to: Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships/Community Safety Partnerships in Wales Drug Action Teams/Community Safety Partnerships in Wales Chief Officers of Police (England and Wales) Clerk to the Police Authority Chief Executives of Local Authorities (England and Wales) |
This circular provides guidance on Year 3 (2005/06) of the 3-year Basic Command Unit (BCU) Fund. It covers the Fund's outcomes and objectives and the allocation of funds to BCUs. The purpose is to allow BCUs to agree spending plans with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and continue their activities for the financial year 2005/06.
Administrative guidance, including on technical and accounting issues, is included at Appendix A to this circular. Grant conditions for the 3 years of the BCU Fund programme (2003-2006) are at Appendix B and individual BCU allocations are at Appendix C. This guidance will also set out the mechanisms for drawing down grant and monitoring arrangements.
The fund is provided to BCUs to:
Help the frontline to deliver crime and disorder reduction locally.
Promote Partnership working.
The funding recognises the significant contribution that the police have made to the work of Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships that were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. The intention is that the funding should help the police play a full and active role in the delivery of Partnerships' strategies. Accordingly BCU fund activity will need to be fully aligned with Partnerships' strategies and other funding streams including Neighbourhood Renewal.
To facilitate this, BCU Commanders must agree their spending plans with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (or the new partnerships that will integrate the responsibilities of DATs and CDRPs). Many BCU Commanders will already have begun to develop their plans for Year 3, and copies of these plans should again be sent to the Crime Reduction Team in the regional Government Office, and the National Assembly for Wales, by a date stipulated by the Regional Home Office Director, so that any new projects may be approved so as to commence as soon as possible after the start of the financial year. Equally, Government Offices would need to be consulted should any subsequent amendments to BCU plans be proposed in-year.
Funding allocations are set out in the attached table at Annex C and are set at the same amounts as for Year 1 (2003-04) and Year 2 (2004/05). BCU Commanders will note that no changes have been made to the allocations to take account of changes in BCU boundaries since the fund was established in 2003. In many cases changes have been local and have happened in-year, making adjustments impractical. However, it has been decided to allow BCU Commanders locally to agree with Home Office Regional Directors any adjustments that may be needed and to re-allocate monies within and between BCUs as necessary.
BCU Commanders may spend the money on:
(a) Crime and Disorder interventions
The funding is not restricted to direct police activity and operations but may be used on a wide range of crime and disorder interventions including target hardening activity focusing on repeat victims, tackling anti-social behaviour through interventions such as pub watch schemes, youth inclusion work including support programmes for young people and CCTV. The interventions might also include anti-drugs work.
The interventions funded will vary depending on Partnerships' strategies, the outcomes identified and a structured analysis of the problems. Interventions should be based on a problem solving approach and a knowledge of what works in crime reduction. Interventions funded by the BCU Fund should be part of a coherent strategy for delivering the Partnership's strategy. The interventions should also be in line with police force area priorities.
(b) Partnership Capacity
The BCU Fund is there to promote partnership working. As such the funding can be spent to help improve Partnership capacity. The capacity requirements of each Partnership will differ depending on what is already in place and forthcoming demands including implementation of strategies. Examples of Partnership capacity that might be funded include programme and project management support staff, analytical support and training.
The BCU Fund, although revenue in nature, can be spent on capital or revenue items.
In considering priorities for spend, BCU Commanders should also take into account delivery at the local level of the 4 key policing priorities set out in the National Policing Plan 2005 – 2008:
Tackling anti-social behaviour and disorder.
Reducing volume, street, drugs related, violent and gun crime in line with local and national targets.
Combating serious and organised crime operating across force boundaries.
Increasing the number of offences brought to justice.
Basic Command Units' boundaries change from time-to-time. Should this occur, BCU Commanders should contact the Crime Reduction Team in the Government Office for advice including on how the funding should be reallocated if that is necessary.
Further information can be obtained from sarah.taylor2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk on 020 7035 5216 (from 4 April 2005 020 7035 0161).
Last update: Wednesday, July 23, 2008