COMMUNITY GRANTS UP FOR GRABS USING CASH SEIZED FROM CRIMINALS

A £60,000 fund will give “power to the people” in Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey to decide who receives cash seized from criminals in North Wales.

The Your Community Your Choice scheme was launched to reward local crime busters across the region and North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Arfon Jones is urging community groups to bid for a share of the pot.

Up for grabs are three grants of up to £2,500 for groups in each county of North Wales and three grants of up to £5,000 for organisations working in three or more counties.

This is the eighth year of the scheme which is organised by the PCC in conjunction with North Wales Police and the North Wales Police and Community Trust: a total of £310,000 has been awarded to 106 projects working to support the priorities in the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan.

Entries close on Friday, December 11, with the entry form available on the North Wales Police website with a link to it on the PCC’s website.

A shortlist will be chosen by a special panel with the winners being decided by a public vote.

The cash comes from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act and from the PCC’s Fund.

PCC Jones, a former police inspector, said: “These awards are important because the communities decide where the money can best be spent. It gives power to the people.

“A lot of what we fund is aimed at providing something for young people to get involved with in their spare time rather than being tempted to commit crime or indulge in anti-social behaviour. We want to support communities so they are able to take responsibility for their own areas.”

Assistant Chief Constable Sacha Hatchett said: “It’s turning bad money into good and it’s making a real difference because it is local people who recognise and understand local issues and how to solve them.”