03 December 2004
Half of all crime reduction partnerships examined by the National Audit Office have been delayed by up to a year due to bureaucracy and might not achieve their 2002/05 targets.
The NAO investigation into 72 crime and disorder reduction partnerships, local bodies that include police, the NHS, the voluntary sector and the community, found that Home Office red tape had delayed their start.
The watchdog found the Home Office had often failed to confirm the amount and conditions attached to the funding it provided. Almost 70% of partnerships and 80% of basic command units said they might not achieve their crime reduction targets as a result of the delays.
The Home Office, which has placed such community projects centre stage of its future crime policies in a recent white paper and national policing plan, was also criticised for its 'over-complex funding systems'. Between April 1999 and March 2003 it introduced 14 different crime reduction grants, all with different conditions and requiring separate audits. The watchdog said too much money had been tied up in administration.
It also sounded a warning over the monitoring of the partnerships, finding that only 44% had 'specific, measurable and realistic targets' and only 39% had been the subject of any review.
Despite this, the NAO reported that partnerships had contributed to a 22% reduction in crime since 1999. 'The Home Office is funding a diverse array of crime reduction projects, many of which are innovative and contributing towards reduced levels of crime,' said Sir John Bourn, NAO head.
Home Office minister Hazel Blears acknowledged that 'lessons had been learned' from the partnerships.
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