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On Friday, 6 December North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin visited Bangor to meet with local PCSO Julie Broadhead to see how an initiative to design and paint murals in the area is promoting positive action among young people and encouraging them away from potentially causing antisocial behaviour (ASB). The local Neighbourhood Policing Team in Bangor, PCSO Broadhead, and Lieam Williams have led on the project within the community.
ASB has a detrimental impact on communities in North Wales and addressing it is important for maintaining a safe environment for neighbourhoods and communities in North Wales. The mural project began after a spate of graffiti and vandalism involving young people in Bangor. To help promote positive behaviours, professional graffiti artist Andy Birch got involved in the project and worked with groups of young people to produce the murals, which have received praise from many in the local community. Members of the public also joined in creating the mural, which is sited in Glanrafon in Bangor City Centre.
During the visit, the PCC met with PCSO Julie Broadhead and discussed how the project is helping young people in the area to steer away from ASB. The mural features Welsh professional footballer Nathan Broadhead (no relation to PCSO Julie Broadhead), the words “Gorau Chwarae Cyd Chwarae” and “Together Stronger” and the coat of arms of the City of Bangor. The PCC saw the hard work that had been put into the mural and discussed how important it is to give an opportunity to young people to demonstrate their creativity and show them that they have a chance to be a part of something important.
The murals demonstrate how community engagement projects involving North Wales Police Neighbourhood Policing Teams, together with funding from the Police and Community Trust (PACT) and young people from Gwynedd Youth Clubs can come together for the common good of the community and to create amazing artwork.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin commented: “Anti-Social Behaviour can have a big impact on communities and neighbourhoods. As PCC for North Wales, I am determined to support communities in reducing ASB. It was a pleasure to visit Bangor and to see how much hard work has gone into the murals project. I congratulate the local Neighbourhood Policing Team, Gwynedd Youth Services, and most of all, the young people themselves on the success of the project and their creativity and imagination. It was also great to see the positive way young people and the police can work together for the good of the community.”
Julie Broadhead, PCSO in the local policing team commented: “Lieam Williams of Gwynedd Youth Service and I are in the process of organising further murals and works of art to be completed around the city, in time for the Bangor’s 1500 Anniversary celebration next year. We hope to help add to the enjoyment of local people by making the area look that tiny bit better with beautiful artwork and by helping reduce anti-social behaviour and sparking creativity in young people. We hope in turn that the residents of Bangor will be able to enjoy the artwork for years to come.”