Proceeds of crime cash to fund community groups – your chance to vote.

Voting lines are now open for people across North Wales to choose which local community group they want to support – using cash seized from criminals.

A total pot of £42,000 is up for grabs as part of a new scheme set up by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick to reward groups which help tackle anti-social behaviour and combat crime and disorder.

The Your Community, Your Choice initiative is being supported by North Wales Police and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).

Two groups in each of the six counties will get £3,000 apiece and a £6,000 prize will go to the winning  organisation that operates across North Wales.

People will be able to vote via the websites of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police from November 10 to December 12.

The prize money includes cash confiscated from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest coming from the Police Commissioner.

Mr Roddick said:

“This scheme has been designed to benefit community groups across North Wales and at the same time hit villains where it hurts them most – in the pocket.

“The message to criminals is abundantly clear – we will seize their ill-gotten gains and use the money for the benefit of the communities from which the money was taken in the first place.

“We have had some fantastic entries which underlines how much excellent work is happening across North Wales in terms of reducing crime and disorder and making  North Wales an even safer place to live, work and visit.”

[blockquote cite=”Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki ” type=”left, center, right”]This is an excellent scheme which allows members of the public and local organisations right in the heart of communities to bid into a fund and to be part of the solutions to crime and disorder in their area, it is deeply satisfying that money taken out of the hands of criminals is being put back into the community in this way.”[/blockquote]

PACT manager Dave Evans explained

“We want to see as many people as possible voting for the schemes they would like us to support, we are delighted that we have had some particularly high quality applications from across North Wales.”

Groundwork North Wales are Deeside’s entry, they work in partnership with Flintshire Communities First, local Police Community Support Officers and local councillors from Garden City, to provide a volunteering and learning opportunity for 15 young people from the area who  have committed offences within the area or at risk of doing so.

During the project the young people will take part in six days of activities including the construction of a sensory garden at St Andrew’s Community Hub in Garden City, cook and eat sessions, drug and alcohol awareness and emergency first aid. During the sessions they will learn new skills, gain an accredited qualification and widen their social contacts by engaging with the local community.

Groundwork North Wales will work in partnership with Flintshire Communities First, local Police Community Support Officers and local councillors from Garden City, to provide a volunteering and learning opportunity for 15 young people from the area who  have committed offences within the area or at risk of doing so.

During the project the young people will take part in six days of activities including the construction of a sensory garden at St Andrew’s Community Hub in Garden City, cook and eat sessions, drug and alcohol awareness and emergency first aid. During the sessions they will learn new skills, gain an accredited qualification and widen their social contacts by engaging with the local community.

There are two other groups vying for the crime cash they are WEA Cymru  and Hawkesbury Community Centre, you can learn about all three Flintshire entrants via the links below

Details about how to vote for your chosen community group can be found at www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or www.north-wales.police.uk