CASH recovered from criminals is once again being given to good causes.

A number of Keighley organisations have already benefited from the West Yorkshire mayor's Safer Communities Fund, which has handed out more than £3 million since 2012.

Now another £1m is being distributed in the latest round of grants, and groups are being urged to apply.

Projects should help deliver mayor Tracy Brabin's new Police and Crime Plan, whose priorities include keeping people safe, creating safer places and thriving communities, and supporting victims and witnesses.

Ms Brabin says: "This money will make a real difference, helping us to keep our communities safe.

"I’m so proud that we've been able to use the cash seized from criminals to fund so many amazing groups and organisations over the years.

"I cannot wait to see which innovative projects come forward this time around, and the impact they will have on the ground."

The funding is largely a result of work carried out by the West Yorkshire Police economic crime unit, which is responsible for identifying and recovering cash obtained by criminals through offences such as fraud and drug dealing.

Chief Constable John Robins says: "Our officers and financial investigators work tirelessly to ensure that criminals do not profit financially from their illegal activities.

"This latest grant round is one of the largest pots of funding there has been as part of the mayor’s Safer Communities Fund and represents a real opportunity to make a significant positive impact in our communities.

"We achieve more by working in collaboration and I would urge organisations to think about opportunities to deliver collaborative projects which ‘build’ our communities for the future."

Organisations can apply to one of three funding pots.

The first offers between £15,000 and £20,000 for larger projects; the second £10,000 or less for smaller initiatives; and the third is a collaboration pot for between two and four groups to jointly apply, with a possible maximum total of £80,000.

Since 2021, the Safer Communities Fund has supported 357 projects.

Beneficiaries have included award-winning Keighley drug and alcohol charity Project 6, which earlier this year received £7,021 to increase engagement with its harm reduction services.

Organisations interested in applying for a grant in the latest round of funding should submit their application by noon on December 13.

Further information, including terms and conditions, can be found on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority website at westyorks-ca.gov.uk/policing-and-crime/mayor-s-safer-communities-fund