SPECIALLY knitted teddies to provide comfort to children during traumatic experiences have been donated to North Wales Police.

Members of the Amlwch Charity Crafters group delivered a number of knitted to toys to the town's policing team to be presented to children in need of comfort - when they have suffered a traumatic experience such as being involved in a car crash, or been a victim or witness of crime.

A total of 45 teddies were also donated to Bangor Police Station by Jean Healy of Y Felinheli. Mr Healy delivered them to the team alongside her granddaughter Katie.

Chief Inspector Essi Ahari said: “Sadly during the course of our shifts we regularly attend incidents where children are having a difficult time - be it where they’ve been involved in a road traffic collision, witnessed a family argument or had a loved one going missing.

“We do our best to build relationships with young people at incidents, however something like a teddy bear can be useful in distracting them from what is going on around them. Our aim is to encourage positive interaction with children, assisting them during difficult times, or just help them to realise that police officers are not people to be scared of, but that they are there to help them.

Denbighshire Free Press:

Amlwch Charity Crafters

“Groups of this kind are vital to our communities. We know that these teddies have already provided comfort to children, and on behalf of North Wales Police I would like to thank them all for their generosity and kindness."

Denbighshire Free Press:

Jean Healy of Y Felinheli with her granddaughter Katie (centre)

Sally Hulse of Amlwch Charity Crafters said: “We meet every Tuesday night and were recently donated lots of wool. So when we got together to discuss what we could create for those in need somebody suggested knitting teddy bears.

“Our local PCSO, Iona Beckmann visited the group and was thrilled when we told her what we were planning. She has since told us that some teddies have already been handed out so we have only been too happy to help create some more.”