News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 15 September 2009
Time is running
out for small retailers to bid for grants from a £5 million fund
to buy security devices such as alarms, UV markers and radios,
Home Office Minister Alan Campbell announced today.
The Small Retailers Grants Fund is offering grants of up to
£3,000 to small retailers in 50 priority areas, to buy security
devices including security grills or dye packs to mark goods.
Groups of small retailers working in partnership in an area can
also team up to bid for grants of up to £50,000 to help improve a
neighbourhood by cleaning it up or adding additional lighting to
reduce the risk of crime.
The deadline for applications to the fund is September 30 and
retailers in the 50 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
(CDRP) and Community Safety Partnership (CSP) areas are being
urged to get in touch before they miss out.
Home Office
Minister Alan Campbell said:
“This £5 million fund can
provide real help to small retailers to pay for better security in
the places it is most needed and I would urge all eligible
retailers to take advantage of this opportunity.
“Small businesses play a vital role in our communities and I am
determined to ensure that they are not taken advantage of during
these hard economic times, by providing real support where it is
most needed.“
To find out how to bid for a grant ring 0845 223 5454, log on to
www.grantsadmin.co.uk/smallretailerscapitalfund
or email smallretailerscapitalfund@grantsadmin.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The areas eligible to bid for grants from the Small
Retailer Grants Fund are: Middlesbrough; Kingston upon Hull;
Easington in Durham ; Birmingham; Blackburn with Darwen;
Hartlepool; Newham; Stoke on Trent; Blackpool; Bradford; Pendle;
Leicester; Haringey; Hastings; Oldham North East Lincolnshire;
Preston; Newcastle upon Tyne; Barrow-in-Furness; Sheffield;
Wolverhampton; Burnley; Sunderland; Bolton; Doncaster; Merthyr
Tydfil; Wansbeck in Northumberland; Redcar and Cleveland; Great
Yarmouth; Mansfield; Walsall; Barnsley; Blaenau Gwent; Derby;
Coventry; Thanet; Wigan; Rhondda Cynon Taf; Wakefield; Darlington;
Kirklees; Barking and Dagenham; Tameside; Waltham Forest; Torbay;
Norwich; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Lincoln.
2. The Small Retailers Grants Fund is part of the national Retail
Crime Action Plan (RCAP), which was launched in August. The plan
was drawn up in partnership with the retail industry, and details
a broad range of actions to tackle crimes against retailers and
small businesses. They include an online risk assessment tool,
developed by crime prevention experts, which businesses can
complete to identify simple measures they can take to reduce the
risk of crime. For a copy of the RCAP go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/retail-crime-action-plan
3. The interactive risk assessment tool is available on the Home
Office’s website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/secureyourbusiness
4. To request a copy of the Retail Crime Action Plan or for more
information contact the Home Office press office on 020 7035 3535.
Contacts:
Home Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7035 3535
NDS.HO@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Adam Murcutt
Phone: 020 7035 3862
Adam.Murcutt1@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk