PEOPLE across Dwyfor Meirionnydd are being urged to vote for their favourite crime fighting schemes – using money seized from criminals.

The successful groups stand to win £2,500 each from a pot of money set up by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

There is a total of more than £40,000 up for grabs with two groups from each county set to be rewarded.

The only condition is that the successful groups have to pledge to run projects to tackle antisocial behaviour and combat crime and disorder.

Among the candidates for the grant is Gwarchod Bermo Watch CCTV who are looking for financial assistance in the annual running of their camera system.

Since the community group was set up, North Wales Police have informed Gwarchod Bermo Watch that crime detection has increased by 70 per cent thanks to their CCTV system.

Neuadd Gymunedol in Dyffryn Ardudwy is also in the running for the money so the community hall can install CCTV to cover the entrance to the hall, redecorate the hall and café.

It is hoped the improvement will also encourage young people to use the facilities, together with the wide variety of adult groups that they currently support.

Additionally, Clwb Pêl-droed Llanllyfni aim to provide facilities and safety resources so that the football club, the Remembrance Hall and the nursery’s equipment is safe and there are no health and safety issues for the volunteers, and is safe from criminals, vandalism or anti-social behaviour.

Finally, Welsh Hearts (Calonnau Cymru) are working with the local community police team to provide public access defibrillators to remote beaches around Pen Llyn with the co-operation of beach cafés, caravan sites and other community groups in order to provide safe and stronger communities, and save lives.

The ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ scheme was launched by Mr Jones 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.

North Wales Police are the top performing force in Wales when it comes to proceeds of crime seizures.

During the last financial year the force received £106,850 in comparison to the previous year’s returns of £63,035.

Among the recent cases where an offender has been forced to forfeit their ill-gotten gains is that of Colin Hughes, from Blaenau Ffestiniog, who has been ordered to pay over £40,000 in relation to offences of the production of cannabis.

Mr Jones said: “It’s very appropriate that this scheme takes money away from the crooks and gives it to the people to improve the quality of life in their communities by helping them to combat crime and disorder or anti-social behaviour.

“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.”

For more information on how to vote call 01745 588516 or go to www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or www.north-wales.police.uk

The voting will take place between 30 October and 1 December.