A POLICE boss is appealing to people across Gwynedd to vote for projects and good causes in their communities that could benefit from a money confiscated from villains.

According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, there is a total of £40,000 up for grabs across the region which could go towards three vital schemes with roots in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd.

The Community Fund was set up jointly by Mr Jones, North Wales Police and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).

The ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ initiative is being partly funded by the money recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, using cash confiscated from offenders with the rest coming from the Police Commissioner.

People can vote for their chosen project via the North Wales Police or the commissioner’s websites and the online poll will close on Friday, 2 December.

The Dwyfor and Meirionnydd finalists include Menter Fachwen, a fund-raiser for a new RNLI lifeboat for Barmouth and the Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force.

PCC Arfon Jones said: “Seizing the ill-gotten gains of villains sends an excellent message that crime doesn’t pay and that they money is being put back into communities to repair the damage that’s been caused by criminal activity. Essentially, we are turning a negative into a positive by improving the quality of life in our communities.

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

Read the full story in this week’s north editions of the Cambrian News, in shops now