Partnerships aimed at reducing crime in Hertfordshire could benefit from a £1.7m Government pay-out to the region this year.

The Home Office has announced it will divide £60m over the next three years, at a rate of £20m per year, between ten regions in England and Wales, with Hertfordshire coming under the South West region.

The Home Office crime reduction directors for each region will oversee the pay-outs to local areas.

The cash is to help crime and disorder reduction partnerships to tackle crime in their areas by, for example, paying for anti-crime initiatives or staff.

The partnerships were established under the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act and are comprised of police, local authorities and other bodies all working together to cut crime.