Commissioner gets £300k to tackle violence against women

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire Stephen Mold successfully bid for the £300,000 fund

A police, fire and crime commissioner says a £300,000 grant will help prevent violence against women and girls.

Northamptonshire's Stephen Mold successfully bid for the cash from the Home Office Safety of Women at Night Fund.

It will be used for schemes including training bar staff to spot unacceptable behaviour and enhancing the safety of female students.

Mr Mold said it would make the county "a safer place to live".

The fund is part of the government's Safer Streets Funding initiative and this grant takes the total awarded to the county over the past 18 months to £2.75m.

The commissioner's office said the money would be used to target the perpetrators of harassment or violence directed at women.

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It said plans were still be finalised but included training for bar and nightclub staff so they could spot unacceptable behaviour.

Work will also be carried out with the University of Northampton to enhance the safety of students.

Conservative Mr Mold will add further funding to provide a vehicle that will be deployed in Northampton town centre on Friday and Saturday nights.

This will host voluntary sector groups that can provide a mobile "safe haven" to anyone on a night out who feels vulnerable or in need of support.

Mr Mold said: "I'm absolutely thrilled we've been successful in securing £300,000 to help tackle violence against women and girls.

"This funding means we'll be able to carry on working with our partners towards making Northamptonshire a safer place to live."