THE victims of domestic abuse and antisocial behaviour will benefit from a £75,000 grant toward services in North Somerset.

The money has been awarded to the district’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) by Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens from a fund aimed at reducing crime and supporting victims across the Avon and Somerset force area.

The CSP is made up of the police and North Somerset Council as well as numerous agencies and voluntary organisations in the district. It has three main priorities it aims to tackle - antisocial behaviour (ASB), domestic abuse and reducing offending.

The £75,000 will be used to develop its work around these.

This will include providing dedicated support to victims through independent domestic violence advisors and case workers. These services aim to ensure the views of victims are represented effectively and to deliver targeted support for each individual.

The funding will also support the partnership’s approach to working with offenders which looks at issues including accommodation, employment and skills, mental and physical health, drugs, alcohol, finance and benefits, children and families and their attitudes and behaviour.

The CSP is also working to build community confidence to encourage more victims of crime to come forward across North Somerset.

PCC Sue Mountstevens said: “The £2.4million fund will enable partner organisations to continue with their essential work in tackling the issues that are affecting their local areas as well as allowing new projects with great, innovative ideas, the chance to solve concerns and support victims.”

Out of the £2.4million fund, £1.7million of this has gone toward central and specialist projects across the force area including developing the ability to carry out drug tests on arrest and a referral service for anyone in custody identified to be misusing drugs and alcohol.

An independent sexual violence advisor service will also be set up and specialist services for young people will be expanded.