Search is on for volunteer custody visitors

A search has been launched in North Wales to find volunteers to act as custody watchdogs to police the police.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones is seeking for up to six independent custody visitors to help him.

Mr Jones wants to appoint volunteers to join the existing team responsible for visiting custody facilities in Wrexham.

Their job will be to safeguard the welfare of people detained by the police and ensure their rights are upheld.

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake at least 10 unannounced visits a year along with and attending training courses, meetings and conferences.

Mr Jones said: “We have a responsibility to ensure that the police are doing things correctly and abiding by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. It is imperative therefore that we have a way of monitoring what goes on in a police custody area.

“We are looking for people with good communications skills who can demonstrate that they have independence and an impartial view, while at the same time maintaining confidentiality.

“This is a very important and interesting role, and I hope that we will attract a lot of interest from suitable candidates from all kinds of backgrounds. I am particularly keen to attract Welsh speakers, younger people and members of the black and ethnic minority communities.”

Custody visiting, formerly known as ‘lay visiting’, owes its origin to Lord Scarman, whose report on the Brixton disorders in 1981 recommended a system of independent  inspection of procedures and detention in police stations by local community members.

It did not become statutory until 1984 when responsibility was given to police authorities to have in place an effective independent custody visiting scheme.

All work done is on a voluntary basis, and travelling expenses are reimbursed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Executive Officer Meinir Jones, who has responsibility for overseeing the visiting scheme within the PCC’s office, said: “This is one of the Commissioner’s statutory duties and we are looking to recruit people over the age of 18 who either live or work in the North Wales Police area.

“They should also be independent of the criminal justice in that they do not work for the police or the probation service and do not serve as magistrates.

“The overall objective is to ensure that people held in custody are detained safely and properly and that their rights and welfare are being attended to.

“Visitors are free to arrange their own visiting times which can be anytime from early in the morning to late at night, any day of the week.

John Dolan, the Chair of the North Wales Custody Visitors’ Panel, said: “Operating in pairs, we approach a custody area unannounced and we have to be given immediate access.

“Accompanied by a sergeant or a civilian detention officer, we speak to detainees and check the condition of the cells to make sure they are clean and that everything is in working order.

“When vulnerable people are held in custody, we have to ensure that their needs are met as well as those of other detainees.

“We are not allowed to know the names of people in detention or what they are in for which allows us to retain our objectivity.

“We produce a written report at the end of each visit which is signed by the custody sergeant and anything we believe needs rectifying is put right straightaway or can be raised at the quarterly meetings which are held between visitors, the Police and Crime Commissioner and senior police officers.

“Ninety-six per cent of the people in custody wish to speak to us and we find that they communicate freely with us. They also value the opportunity to speak to an independent person about their detention and their welfare.”

He added: “I have been a Custody Visitor now for over four years and I find it a very fulfilling role. It does give you a sense of purpose and it’s not just a box-ticking exercise.

“It’s important to be a good communicator so that you can build up a rapport with detainees and also a professional relationship with the police.

“Our visits can be very rewarding and I believe detainees feel more confident that their welfare is of the utmost importance.

“The custody staff  welcome the fact that there is an additional layer of checks which confirm they are fulfilling their own role correctly and appropriately.

“The scheme can only add value to the whole policing service.”

Magistrates and serving or former police officers and special constables are not allowed to become custody visitors. To avoid possible conflict of interest, others may be excluded if they have direct involvement in the criminal justice system, such as solicitors or probation officers.

* Eligible individuals who are interested in applying to become a Custody Visitor in North Wales should contact Meinir Jones at the Commissioner’s office, either by ringing 01492 805486 or via email at: opcc@nthwales.pnn.police.uk

Operatic members in the honours

* Helen Belton receives the Special Achievement award from Jackie Titley. Pictures by Jon Haddy.

* ... and the Diana Gay Rose Bowl from Paul Gay.

* Bill Hughes with John Evans Memorial Award.

Members of Llangollen Operatic Society were in the honours at their annual meeting on Tuesday evening.

Producer Helen Belton received the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) Wales and Ireland Region Special Achievement award.

_{It was handed over by NODA regional representative Jackie Titley who had come especially to make the presentation.}

_{Helen also won the Diana Gay Rose Bowl, voted on by the membership for having contributed the most to the society. It was presented by Paul Gay in whose late wife’s memory it was instituted.}

_{Bill Hughes picked up the John Evans Memorial Award for Best Performance for his role as Alfred Doolittle in the society’s recent production of  My Fair Lady.}

Summer Reading Challenge volunteers sought

Denbighshire Library Service is on the look-out for young volunteers to help with this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Last year, 3,394 children got involved in the challenge and the service is looking to repeat last year’s success by involving volunteers.

The theme for this year is Mischief Makers.

Young people aged between 14 and 24 are invited to sign up as volunteers and will benefit from valuable work experience, the opportunity to develop confidence and social skills, as well as making a positive contribution to the local community.

Volunteers will sign up children to the challenge and help them find and choose books, help children and families to use the challenge website and to assist with events in the county’s libraries.

The volunteers will need to commit to a minimum of three hours across four weeks.

They will need good communication skills and preferably a willingness to engage with children and families in both Welsh and English, an interest in supporting and working with children, and in books and reading and a flexible, friendly approach to tasks undertaken, punctuality and reliability.

* For further information, please contact the local library. Details can be found on www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries

 

Top stand-up man to open the Fringe

Lloyd Langford is set to kick off the first night of Llangollen Fringe Festival’s 21st birthday, joined by a host of very special guests on Thursday July 19 at Llangollen Town Hall.

Llangollen Comedy Club has been gaining momentum all year, and aims to go out with a bang for the season finale.

Langford (pictured) is a stand-up comedian, writer and self-proclaimed ‘actor of incredibly limited range’.

He has appeared on QI (BBC1) Never Mind The Buzzcocks (BBC2).

On radio he has been featured on the Rhod Gilbert Show (BBC Radio Wales) and The Unbelievable Truth (BBC Radio 4).

He has also written for numerous TV comedies including Russell Howard’s Good News, Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier, and Man Down.
  
He's been invited to comedy festivals all over the world, including Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival and the Christchurch Busker's Festival.

His stand-up is a winning combination of jokes, personal anecdotes, petty grievances and offbeat observations.

Langford is joined on a stellar bill  - the festivals biggest to date - by ELIZA CARTHY & THE WAYWARD BAND, LEE SCRATCH PERRY, CRAIG CHARLES, MARK RADCLIFFE and LINTON KWESI JOHNSON.

There will also be a return of BAND FOR A DAY, the music themed STEAM TRAIN and AQUEDUCT BOAT trips, and many other fringe events.

The event rounds off with its now legendary closing concert in the stunning surrounds of VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY.

The Fringe Finale will this year feature the ethereal sound of GOLDEN FABLE and THE NEW SINFONIA ORCHESTRA.

* A limited number of tickets for Lloyd Langford at the Comedy Club Finale are on sale now at www.llangollenfringe.co.uk

Tickets for all other performances are also available from www.llangollenfringe.co.uk or by calling the Fringe box office:  0800 1455 779

Plas Newydd's art exhibition for July - Rosie Davies

TIRWEDDAU A LLANGOLLEN

LLANGOLLEN & LANDSCAPES

ARDDANGOSFA GELF

SOLO ART EXHIBITION
ROSIE DAVIES

Gorffennaf . July 2018

PLAS NEWYDD

Hill St, Llangollen. LL20 8AW

e:bost / e mail: plasnewydd@denbighshire.gov.uk

Ffȏn / Phone: 01978 862834

ROSIE DAVIES, TITHE BARN STUDIO & GALLERY

Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, LL20 7LD

rosie@tithebarnwales.co.uk : 01691 600310

Gweler rhagor o with Rosie ar : www.tithebarnwales.co.uk

See more of Rosie’s work at : www.tithebarnwales.co.uk

Tea room has its official opening

* Carl Pottenger and Sally Roberts with Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas.

Photographs by Mark Fetherstone. 

* Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir sang at the official opening.

A former derelict chapel has been brought back to life thanks to a couple who quit their jobs to make their dream of running a tea room come true. 

Business partners Sally Roberts and Carl Pottenger of Trevor, near Llangollen, took on the ambitious project in 2016 to convert the former Bryn Seion Chapel on Station Road into the Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room, close to Thomas Telford’s famous Aqueduct.

The aqueduct gained World Heritage Status in 2004 and has seen the area boosted by increased visitor numbers since.   

Sally and Carl recognised the gap in the market to provide those visitors with a quality eatery close by, showcasing some of the best local produce available. 

The ambitious project was boosted by a £30k grant from the Welsh Government’s Tourism Investment Support Scheme. They now employ 12 staff on a full-time, part-time and casual basis.

Carl oversaw the renovations, ensuring local craftsmen were employed to carry out the work. Sally set about identifying and applying for funding, before quitting her job with a high street bank last year to concentrate on the project full time. 

Phase two of the project is already underway with the transformation of the remainder of the building into five modern, airy bedrooms - two on the ground floor, including one with disabled access and three on the upper floor. It is intended that two bedrooms will be completed and available from mid-July. 

Sally Roberts said: “It was certainly a daunting prospect to purchase the chapel but I’d seen it falling into disrepair on a daily basis in recent years and thought what a great tea room and B&B it would make. So when I met Carl we both decided to make it a joint venture and took the leap to buy the property.

“We have received such a lot of support from advisors including the Welsh Government and Business in Wales, as well as the community. We are now focusing our efforts on attracting more day visitors from further afield. It’s important we link closely with other areas in the vicinity of the aqueduct to improve the visitor experience to the area as tourism is the lifeblood of many communities around here, particularly being so close to Llangollen.”

Carl Pottenger, who was brought up on the other side of the aqueduct in nearby Froncysyllte said: “The chapel was in a pretty bad state of repair when we got it but that didn’t put us off. We decided very early on that we wanted to create a real ‘wow’ factor when you stepped through our doors and we believe we have achieved that with the help of some superb local craftspeople who have worked with us. We’ve even matched the woodwork to the original pulpit which we have preserved as a key piece in the premises.”

The Pontcysyllte Tea Room opened its doors in February and was officially opened by Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, AM and Minister for Culture, Tourism & Sport on Monday.

The Wales Government offers grants under the Tourism Investment Support Scheme for ‘Distinctive Stand Out Projects’. 

Lord Elis-Thomas said: “I’d like to congratulate Sally and Carl for their vision in seeing the potential in this historic building and turning it into this excellent tea room. As well as being a welcome addition for visitors attracted to this iconic World Heritage Site, they’re also creating new jobs in the tourism sector in north east Wales.

"With the ambiance of a Welsh Chapel, the nearby Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Welsh produce on offer - the Pontcysyllte Chapel Tea Room has a strong sense of place and an excellent story to tell. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support this venture and wish the owners well as they complete the accommodation phase of the project.”

Councillor Rondo Roberts, Wrexham County Borough Councillor for Llangollen Rural ward, said: “Sally and Carl have invested so much time, effort and money into making sure this project is successful and also given the local economy a boost by creating brand new jobs and using local suppliers throughout the process. They continue to do this as the business is growing by engaging with food producers in the locality to create a real taste of Wales experience. I wish them well for the future.”

* Follow the Pontcysyllte Chapel Tearoom on Facebook  and Twitter @ponttearoom

AM questions government on cannabis-based medicines

With the UK Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, having announced a review into the use of cannabis-based medicines in the UK, which could lead to their re-scheduling and pave the way for doctors to issue prescriptions for treatments,  North Wales Assembly Member and Chair of the Cross Party Group on Neurological Conditions, Mark Isherwood,  has called on the Welsh Government to outline how it proposes to deal with the matter.

In yesterday’s Business Statement Mr Isherwood, who has been working with MS Society Cymru on this issue for some time, backed the call for a Welsh Government Statement regarding the provision of medicinal cannabis on prescription, referring to the well-publicised case of Billy and Charlotte Caldwell.

He said: “You may recall that in January, I led a Debate in the Assembly, as Chair of the Cross Party Group on Neurological Conditions, highlighting that this wasn't about one person, it was about multiple people, with multiple conditions, who were already being forced to access cannabis illegally, rather than having individually distillated prescriptions to meet their particular needs.

“After that Debate, I hosted Billy and his mother Charlotte in this Assembly, and they told us their story. We heard that Billy used to suffer up to 100 seizures a day until he began treatment with cannabis oil, following successful treatment in Los Angeles by a children's epilepsy specialist, and he became virtually seizure free. On return from Los Angeles, Charlotte told us, he became the first person to be prescribed medicinal cannabis on the UK NHS. 

“Charlotte has been campaigning for medicinal cannabis from the NHS, recognising the desperation felt by many families fighting to be afforded the same access that she fought so hard for. And she was adamant, and remains adamant, that this is a separate issue entirely, and must not become confused with debates over recreational use, or broader drug legalization.

“She contacted me again in May, after her doctor was summoned to a meeting with Home Office officials and told to desist writing the prescriptions. After that, I wrote to the Home Secretary, urging him and his officials to urgently contact her to find a resolution and a way forward.

“We heard that the UK Government has now set out plans for an expert clinical panel to look at individual cases, and I know, in January, I was calling on the Welsh Government to put in place preparations within the Welsh NHS for potential prescription here. I would be grateful for a detailed statement acknowledging the issue and detailing how the Welsh Government proposes to address this, in alignment with the UK, but also in the devolved context, and hopefully add its voice of support, a voice that sadly wasn't fulsome when I led the Debate in January."

Leader of the House Julie James AM said she will “discuss with the Cabinet Secretary (Health) where we are and make sure that he updates Members in the most appropriate way."