A POLICE Crime Commissioner has called on community projects to apply for funding to keep youths away from crime.

Cleveland Police’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Steve Turner has just launched a new fund to divert young people from a life of crime and help protect the most vulnerable from harm.

The Serious Violence Fund aims to prevent young people in Cleveland from getting involved in serious violent crime such as knife crime - or becoming victims - by taking part in positive activities to fuel their interests and ambitions.

The PCC has called for community projects working with the Under-25s to submit applications for funding to support their activities. Successful applications will: Effectively engage young people, build aspiration, provide positive activities, and divert young people from serious violence and potential harm.

Mr Turner said: “Serious violence has been a long-standing problem in Cleveland and I will continue to highlight to Government the key and emerging challenges we face and the impact that this has on communities.

“By building interest, engagement and aspiration among young people, I hope we can prevent them from becoming involved in serious, violent crime."