Groups can have a share of £42,000

TIME is running out for community groups in North Wales to bid for a share of a £42,000 pot of money seized from criminals.

Winston Roddick QC, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, is urging organisations which help tackle antisocial behaviour and combat crime and disorder to get their application in before the deadline on October 2.

The scheme has been set up by Mr Roddick, North Wales Police and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT). Two groups from each county stand to receive £3,000 apiece while £6,000 is available for a group that operates across North Wales.

Mr Roddick said: “Last year we had bids from across North Wales from all sorts of interesting groups doing great things in their local communities and I’m hoping for an even greater response this year. I would urge organisations to get their bids in now to make sure that they do not to miss out on this opportunity to hit criminals where it hurts most, their pockets.”

The Your Community, Your Choice initiative is being partly funded by the money recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act (PACT), using cash confiscated from offenders with the rest coming from Mr Roddick.

Community groups can find application packs on the websites of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police.

A shortlist of applicants will be chosen by a special panel and from November 1 members of the public will decide which groups to support.

Voting will then take place between October 26 and November 27.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki was equally enthusiastic.

He said: “It’s absolutely right that the money taken out of the hands of criminals is put back into the community.”

PACT manager Dave Evans explained “The fund will be open for application by email using a standard application form that will be available on both the PCC’s website and North Wales Police’s website.

“Applicants have to be a properly constituted community group or a registered charity and the main criterion is that the project in question helps to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.”

E-mail completed applications participatorybudgetfund@nthwales.pnn. police.uk by October 2.

For more information ring 01745 588516 or visit www.northwales-pcc.gov. uk or www.north-wales.police.uk