A SPECIAL fund which uses cash seized from crooks to help community crimebusters in Gwynedd is set to take its hand-outs to over £200,000 in five years.

The ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ awards are again putting up over £40,000 for local groups and North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones is urging local groups to bid for the cash.

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

Each of the region’s six counties will have £2,500 apiece for two groups, along with £5,000 each for two organisations that operate across north Wales.

The successful groups are chosen by public vote and entries open on Monday, 4 September, and close on Saturday, 30 September.

A shortlist of applicants will be chosen by a special panel and voting opens to the public on 30 October and runs until 1 December with that vote deciding the winners.

The cash for the awards comes partly from money seized by the courts through the Proceeds of Crime Act with the rest from the Police Commissioner’s Fund.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said: “These awards are important because they involve the community and the communities decide where the money can best be spent.”

Completed applications must be returned by e-mail to [email protected] by 5pm on 30 September.