Groups need votes for criminal cash
A police boss is appealing to people across Gwynedd and Anglesey to vote for crimefighting projects in their communities - using money confiscated from villains.
According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, there’s a total of £40,000 up for grabs- with £2,500 apiece for two groups in each county and £5,000 each for two groups that operate across the region.
The Community Fund was set up jointly by Mr Jones, North Wales Police and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).
The Your Community, Your Choice initiative is being partly funded by the money recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, using cash confiscated from offenders with the rest coming from the Police Commissioner.
People can vote for their chosen project via the North Wales Police or the commissioner’s websites and the online poll will close on Friday, December 2.
The Gwynedd finalists are Bangor Gymnastics Club, Maesgeirchen Partnership, Menter Fachwen, RNLI, Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force.
In Anglesey, the finalists are the Cae Cybi Field Association, Ynys Mon Gymnastics Club, Plas Road Allotment Association and the Llangoed Under 14s.
Mr Jones said: “Seizing the ill-gotten gains of villains sends an excellent message that crime doesn’t pay and that they money is being put back into communities to repair the damage that’s been caused by criminal activity.
“Essentially, we are turning a negative into a positive by improving he quality of life in our communities.
“The money is going where it’s going to make a difference in reducing crime and in improving the quality of the communities which suffer the crime.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki.
He said: “It is a very good thing for community groups to be able to access pots of money in order to be able to reduce crime and disorder within their communities and improve the quality of life for the community in their area.
“It sends a really positive message that money taken from the pockets of criminals is being recycled. This is turning bad money into good money that’s being used for a constructive purpose.
“We really value our relationships with the public and we recognise that we can’t reduce crime and disorder on our own. It’s a partnership and a joint effort with other agencies but absolutely crucial and critically is the public themselves.
“The public often are the ones who know what the things are that will work best in their area and for them to be able to bid into a pot of money is a really positive thing.”
According to PACT chairman David Williams, it was also a very democratic process because the public will be able to decide who gets the money.
Mr Williams said: “One of the real pluses of the scheme is that ultimately it’s the public who has the voice and who will say which projects will go forward and are worthy of this important money.
“And very appropriately, one of the conditions is that the people who apply for this money have to be doing something that combats anti-social behaviour or addresses crime and disorder in some way.
“The aims Your Community, Your Choice scheme also coincide with the objectives of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan so it creates a virtuous circle.”
For more information on how to vote ring 01745 588516 or go to www.northwales-pcc. gov.uk or www.north-wales.police.uk