Groups urged to bid for seized crime cash

* Police and Crime Commissioner, Winston Rodick , PACT Chairman

David Williams, assistant chief constable of North Wales

Police Richard Debicki and Julian Sandham, the

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales.

Community groups across North Wales are being urged to bid for a pot of money seized from criminals in a move described as "poetic justice" by a crime tsar.

 

Up for grabs is a total of £42,000 for the successful organisations who pledge to run projects to tackle anti-social behaviour and combat crime and disorder.

 

Two groups from each of the region's six counties will receive £3,000 apiece and £6,000 is available for a group that operates across North Wales.

 

The winning candidates will be chosen by a public vote later this year.

 

The ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ scheme has been launched by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC and Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki  in partnership with the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).

 

It is being jointly funded by money recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, using cash confiscated from offenders, and the Commissioner’s Fund.

 

Community groups are being urged to apply between September 1 and October 2.

 

Application packs can be found 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 with a vote via the two websites and a dedicated email address.

 

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

 

Commissioner Roddick said: "It’s an outstanding idea. Not only does it go to worthy causes but it has the sound of justice all around it.

 

"This is poetic justice at work because we're confiscating the ill-gotten gains of villains and redistributing the money where it’s needed.

 

"It will be used by groups and organisations, all of whom will be doing something to combat crime and disorder or anti-social behaviour and that is very appropriate.

 

"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 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."

 

The opening date is September 1 and completed applications must be returned via email to participatorybudgetfund@nthwales.pnn.police.uk by the closing date on October 2. For more information ring 01745 588516 or go to www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or www.north-wales.police.uk
 

Here's where the money went last year:

 

Anglesey (£3,000 each) – Bodedern Friends, sports training for children aged five-18, and Frindiau Parc Rhosybol, new play area.

 

Conwy (£3,000 each) – Llanfairfechan Town FC, community facility at football ground, and Llandudno Neighbourhood Watch Drop-in Centre, crime prevention initiative.

 

Denbighshire (£3,000 each) – Prestatyn and Meliden Community Action Group, activities for young teens and pensioners, and Dragon Riders, Rhyl, community bike riding project.

 

Flintshire (£3,000 each) - WEA Cymru in partnership with Clwyd Alyn Supported Living Project, art focused workshops for young people, and Groundwork North Wales, volunteering and learning opportunities for young people.

 

Gwynedd (£,3000 each) – Welsh Institute of Therapeutic Horsemanship, horse-based therapy for disadvantaged young people, and Gisa Mentro Mlaen Project, Caernarfon, independent living for vulnerable people.

 

Wrexham (£3,000 each) – Caia Park Partnership, outdoor pursuits courses for young people, and The Warehouse Project, help for young homeless people.

 

Pan-North Wales project (£6,000) – Dangerpoint, Talacre, Flintshire, education and life skills for young people.  

Woman hospitalised after Horseshoe Falls incident

The Daily Post in reporting this morning that a woman was hospitalised after a rope swing fall at the Horseshoe Falls yesterday.

For the full story, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/woman-hospitalised-horseshoe-falls-llangollen--9836575

French film star visits new health centre

*Monsieur Hulot takes a look along the river frontage of Llangollen's new health centre. 

The next film to be shown at New Dot Cinema Llangollen stars a famous French character called Monsieur Hulot.



* ... takes a peek inside. 

A bit like Mr Bean, he doesn't say much but the humour comes from his movements and interactions
throughout the film.

"He often seems curious but bemused about his environment," explains cinema programmer Simon Proffitt.

"In PlayTime he encounters modern 1960s Paris which is shiny, new and full of high-tech gadgets.

"We wondered what he would make of our new health centre here in Llangollen."

The health centre, which is to open later in the year, had a recent preview day where locals were able to wander around and inspect the new facilities and attractive modern landscaping on the north bank of the River Dee.



Members of the New Dot team were inspired to don a Monsieur Hulot-style raincoat, trilby and bow tie, all sourced locally at one of Llangollen's vintage clothes shops, and pose for some photos.

Simon added: "The next film evening will have a 1960s, slightly French feel.



* ... and around the front.

"We're running our own bar this time, which will include a selection of good French wines accompanied by tasters of French cheese.

"The music will be a mixture of 60s jazz and interesting retro-future sounds. We're also hoping our volunteer cake-bakers will pull some tarte tatins and gateaux out of their hats!"

PlayTime (certificate PG) by celebrated French film maker Jacques Tati is considered the finest of his work.

It will be screened this Friday, August 14, at Llangollen Town Hall in Castle Street.

Doors open at 7pm, showtime is 7.30pm. Some cushions are provided, but feel free to bring your own.

The community cinema is run entirely by volunteers. Tickets are available online at http://www.newdotcinema.org or at Baileys Deli on Castle Street and Lotties Bespoke Vintage on Oak Street, Llangollen, priced at £8 (£5).

Last month's inaugural performance was completely sold out, so organisers' advice is to buy tickets soon to avoid disappointment.

Police seek information on RAFA club damage

Neighbourhood Watch members in the area have been asked for any information they might have about a report of criminal damage at the RAFA Club in Llangollen.

North Wales Police say that between 1 and 3am on Tuesday August 1, six males were seen throwing items around the bowling green, which caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage at the club, located at the side of the Llangollen Canal, near the wharf.

Anyone with information about the incident I asked to call 101.

Alternatively, you can provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers Wales on 0800 555 111.

North Wales Police urges residents to always report suspicious activity to them at the earliest opportunity.

MP hits out of delay in opening station bridge

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has written to Network Rail Chief Executive Mark Carne calling for the new footbridge at Chirk railway station to be opened.

"Local residents and I are fed-up with the delay. It's totally unacceptable," she said.

"Local rail-users were delighted when the Friends of Chirk Station and representatives of Network Rail and Alun Griffiths Contractors worked together to secure this major improvement.

"However, the newly installed footbridge still hasn't been opened. It isn't fair on local residents, especially those who carry heavy cases or need it for reasons of mobility."

In her letter to the Network Rail boss, Ms Jones (pictured left) asks why the opening has been "so delayed".

She added: "There's a suggestion that the bridge hasn't been opened because of the need for extra lights. But whatever the reason - Network Rail need to clarify what is going on and how long the work will take, and then they need to get the footbridge opened. This matter needs to be sorted urgently."

Chance to meet new people at church event

Support urged for local High Street Heroes

Llangollen people are being urged to vote for a well-known local business in a competition to find Wales’s High Street Heroes.

The Welsh Government launched its Support Your High Street campaign last year to celebrate the valuable contribution our busy high streets make to the Welsh economy, as well as the vital role they play in community life.

A key action in the Vibrant and Viable Places Regeneration Framework, the aim is to encourage people and communities to use their local high streets.

The campaign is also running this year, with High Street Week taking place from September 19 – 26 with a new feature - the High Street Heroes Awards.

This year’s campaign and the High Street Heroes Awards were launched on June 5  by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths AM.

Mike Edwards, of Llangollen Cittaslow community group, has nominated the team at Gwyn the Butchers in Castle Street as High Street Heroes.

And Mike said: “Can I urge everyone through llanblogger to vote for Gwyn, Richard and Callum our wonderful local independent butcher.”

Voting for the High Street Heroes Awards is online via the Support Your High Street Facebook page Support Your High Street Facebook page (external link).