“How
Could Seized Drug Money Benefit East End?”, Minister to Ask
Deputy Justice Minister, Hugh Henry,
will visit Greenock today (Monday 27th March) to see for himself how
money seized from drug dealers and other serious criminals could benefit the
east end of the town.
The Minister will visit
Greenock police station to be briefed by senior officers on their work to cut
crime in the east end, before meeting with local youngsters at the Belville
Street kick-about area to hear how they want to see the money invested.
The east end of Greenock is
one of only 12 wards across Scotland which has been invited to bid for its share
of around £2 million of ill-gotten gains, seized under the Proceeds of Crime
Act.
MSP for Greenock and
Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said he was sure that the Minister would be left in
no doubt about the benefits such investment could deliver in the east end.
“It’s great to see money
seized from dealers being put back into the communities they try to bleed
dry,” he said. “But we need to
make sure this cash is used to maximum effect.
That’s why it’s important that the Minister is here to listen to
people from the east end’s views on what sort of facilities would make a real
difference in their community.
“I am sure that he will
bear in mind what he hears today when he comes to look at which proposals should
benefit from this new funding.”
The Community Safety
Partnership has been asked to submit proposals, setting out how it would spend
the money to best effect. The
Executive is looking for these proposals within the next couple of weeks.
Other wards invited to bid
include Port Glasgow East; Barlanark and Govan in Glasgow; and Muirhouse in
Edinburgh.
ENDS
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