Anglesey and Gwynedd residents can have their say, for the first time ever, on how money seized from criminals is spent. The Participatory Budgeting Scheme, established by Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick, is partly funded by money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
£42k has been made available for projects which will help cut crime and reduce anti-social behaviour. The money will be shared amongst the six counties of north Wales. Each local authority area has been allocated £7k and each winning project will receive a maximum of £3.5k.
73 projects were submitted and following a panel discussion involving police, local authority representatives and local dignitaries they have now been shortlisted to five per county area.
Members of the public have until Friday 31st January 2014 to vote for their favourite from the shortlisted projects. They can do so through the North Wales Police website.
Winston Roddick said: “It is only right that money recovered from those who commit crimes against people in north Wales should go back to benefit local communities. This initiative goes a step further by allowing the public to decide on where and how it should be spent."
- Read the full story online
- Hear the interview with the Police Commissioner on BBC Radio Wales (available until mid Feb 2014)