The good work of officers and staff from North Wales Police as well as community groups and volunteers has been honoured by the High Sheriff of Gwynedd.
At the annual Awards Ceremony, recently held at the County Court in Caernarfon, the recipients received a well deserved pat on the back by the High Sheriff, Major Norman Corbett.
Nominated by senior officers from North Wales Police as well as the local community, the winners received a certificate commending them for their hard work and dedication to the communities they serve throughout Gwynedd and Anglesey.
Winner of the High Sheriff of the Gwynedd 2010 Crimebeat Award: PC Dave Owens, PCSO John McMullan and the Holyhead Explorer Scout (Young Leader) Scheme
This project allows young people from the Holyhead area who are between the ages of 14 and 18 to continue to be involved with the scouting movement after they reach the age they would normally be required to leave the Scouting Association.
PC David Owens and PCSO John McMullan play a leading role in the co-ordination of this project.
The young ‘Explorer Scouts’ assist adult learners in delivering a varied and exciting range of activities to children between 6 and 14 years. They also work towards their own development.
The young people concerned with the ‘Explorer Scouts’ have benefited from their membership of the Scouting Association and now wish to contribute in a voluntary capacity towards the development of the next generation of scouts.
The project affords an excellent opportunity for these young people to make a valuable contribution to the community.
Winner of the Highly Commended Certificate for 2010: Waunfawr Primary School with ‘Me and Friends Against Crime’
This is an intergenerational crime prevention project involving young children of primary school age who have been given information and training by PCSO Norman Hughes in relation to property security marking with UV marker pens.
The pupils of Waunfawr Primary School were provided with UV pens and put their new knowledge and skill to good use by marking their parents, grandparents’ and other family members’ property.
This project has enabled the police to promote crime prevention advice to the local community which was only made possible with the aid of pupils from Ysgol Waunfawr.
Winner of the Highly Commended Certificate for 2010: Awarded to the Communities Against Substance Misuse for their ‘Trip Trap’ and ‘Junior Trip Trap’ project
This project was initiated by commute members of the Communities Against Substance Misuse Forum (CASM) at Barmouth.
This group represents a number of agencies including police, Communities First and Tai Clwyd.
The Trip Trap initiative is directed at highlighting and raising awareness of the dangers associated with substance misuse and involved a number of agencies visiting secondary schools at Bala, Dolgellau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Tywyn, Harlech and Porthmadog.
These events also included ex prisoners involved in the ‘Choose Life’ programme, who performed a drama for the pupils and answered questions in relation to the way in which substance misuse had affected their life.
Building on the success of last years Junior Trip Trap project, this years event took place at the Dragon Theatre in Barmouth which involved pupils from primary schools throughout Meirionnydd.
The young people were given advice from a number of agencies in relation to their personal safety and wellbeing.
Winner of the Highly Commended Certificate for 2010: Awarded to the CIP Pwllheli Youth Project
CIP opened its doors as an information café for the young people of Pwllheli and the Pen Llŷn area over a year ago and it has been a phenomenal success with over 160 members.
The café provides information leaflets and engages in various activities which appeal to youngsters – which include being given the opportunity to assist in a small business enterprise which produces items of jewellery and t-shirts.
The most important thing that CIP offers is a safe place for young people to meet and socialize as well as somewhere for them to go for advice on a range of topics including health and wellbeing, careers and employment.
Local police officers acknowledge that the project has made a significant difference in levels of anti-social behaviour amongst 11 to 25-year-olds within Pwllheli.
The financial support provided by ‘Crimebeat’ has enabled CIP to grow and extend the hours that they are open to the young people of Pen Llyn.
Winner of the Highly Commended Certificate for 2010: The Anglesey Domestic Abuse Forum
Award pictureThis project was conceived by the Anglesey Domestic Violence Abuse Forum, which involves a number of agencies working in partnership to reduce levels of domestic violence and provide aid to victims.
In an effort to educate young people in relation to the problems associated with domestic abuse, this project involved every year seven pupil on Anglesey who took part in a competition to design a Christmas card incorporating the White Ribbon logo.
The winners were Chloe Michelle Trohear-Evans, a pupil at Holyhead High School and Chloe Hughes, a pupil at Ysgol David Hughes, Menai Bridge.
Their cards were commercially produced abd the proceeds from the sale of cards is being used to fund various preventative measures across the island. All agencies involved in the initiative believed this strategy of engaging with young people has the potential to have a positive outcome towards addressing the prevalence and effects of this often hidden and sensitive subject.
Winner of the Highly Commended Certificate for 2010: Ysgol y Moelwyn in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Drug and Alcohol Awareness Fair’
Award pictureThe fair took place at the school in September 2009 and the aim of the project was to provide pupils aged 13 to 17 with advice in a non judgemental atmosphere in an effort to reduce the negative and often life changing effects that excessive use and abuse of drugs and alcohol can have, not only on the individual concerned but also on their families, friends and local community.
A number of information stalls were set up and local health practitioners were on hand to give advice. Other agencies involved were police, Women’s Aid, education welfare officers and careers advisors.
Winner of the Highly Commended Certificate for 2010: The Dolgellau Intergeneration Walking Club
The aim of the group is to enhance the wellbeing of its members by encouraging a healthy lifestyle and the group ethos promotes greater intergenerational interaction as a means of creating a better understanding between generations.
The group started with ten regular walkers and has now grown to 35, almost half of which are young people. A close liaison is also maintained with the local secondary school in order to raise the group’s profile and to attract new members.
The group aim to engender respect for each other and the environment. This philosophy creates a better understanding of the issues and possible tensions which might exist between the generations. It also provides the opportunity to highlight the negative effects of anti-social behaviour can have, not only for the perpetrator, but also for the victims and particularly elderly people.
Community Service Certificates for North Wales Police officers and staff
The High Sheriff also awarded North Wales Police officers and staff for their high level of commitment, perseverance and dedication.
The High Sheriff values the community work undertaken by North Wales Police staff, and for the past two years, Community Service Certificates have been awarded to staff who have undertaken work within their communities which is described as being beyond what is expected of them during the normal course of their duties.
Anglesey District
• PC Dave Owen, CBM for Valley: In recognition of the commendable work undertaken in relation to youth development in Anglesey, and in particular for his work with the Scouting movement at Holyhead.
Caernarfon District
• PC Leigh Anderson and PCSO Norman Hughes, Community Safety Team, Caernarfon: In recognition of the highly commendable service given to the communities of Anglesey and Gwynedd in the promotion of diversity and crime prevention.
• Mr Gareth Evans, Section Officer, Special Constabulary, Caernarfon: In recognition of the commendable service given to the public of Caernarfon and neighbouring communities in the promotion and development of community cohesion.
Meirionnydd District
• PC Ifor Williams, Tywyn: In recognition of the commendable service given to the public in the promotion and development of community cohesion.
• PC Geraint Jones, Dolgellau: In recognition of the long and distinguished service given to the public of Dolgellau and neighbouring communities in the promotion and development of community cohesion. Porthmadog and Pwllheli District
• PCSO Paul Duggan, Porthmadog: In recognition of the commendable service given to the public in the promotion and development of community cohesion.
