OFFICERS from North Wales Police (NWP) held a “boxercise” session for women and girls in Holyhead Leisure Centre as part of its “Safer Streets” initiative.

The aim of the session was to promote women’s safety and self-confidence and further build on the good relationship between the force and the community.

A total of 20 members of the public joined the free session, which was funded by money from the Safer Streets initiative.

Also in attendance was Virginia Crosbie, Ynys Môn MP, as well as officers from the force.

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The session was held to give women and girls in the area an opportunity to learn self-defence tactics.

A series of exercise sessions have been planned for adults as well as individual sessions for children and teenagers, to be delivered in primary and secondary schools respectively.

The Safer Streets fund is a £75million Home Office programme that encourages police and crime commissioners and local authorities to bid for investment for initiatives to prevent neighbourhood crime.

The aim of the project is to support areas experiencing crime across England and Wales, such as domestic burglary, robbery, theft, vehicle crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB), and violence against women and girls (VAWG) in public spaces, including in the night-time economy.

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The police and crime commissioner’s team worked closely with NWP, local authorities, schools, justice services and third sector partners to ensure the bid had as much support as possible across the areas receiving funding.

Holyhead was one of the recipients of the fourth round of Safer Streets funding, along with Wrexham and Deeside.

The Holyhead project has seen £692,149 go towards improved street lighting in around the town centre and the installation of 21 CCTV cameras.

There is also the planned provision of target hardening and crime prevention packs for 250 properties to help prevent neighbourhood crime; and provision of high visibility police patrols to help tackle and prevent VAWG offences and ASB as part of night-time economy.

March 8 is International Women’s Day, the global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

North Wales police and crime commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, said: “I am pleased to see the funding we have received from Safer Streets go towards practical sessions to help women feel safer in the community.

“It has been my aim since I was elected to ensure that the residents of North Wales are safe and I’m pleased, with tomorrow being International Women’s Day, that we are putting measures in place to keep women safe in Holyhead and elsewhere across the region.

“The Safer Streets project in Holyhead is another example of how hard work and close collaboration between Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales staff and local partners has resulted in a successful outcome.

“I’d like to thank all those involved for all their ongoing work.”

Virginia Crosbie MP added: “I am really pleased to see some of the UK Government’s Safer Streets funding going into self-defence sessions for women.

“The island recently received £692,000 from the fund to do good like this and it was a pleasure to get involved and learn some skills myself.

“It also shows the government is committed to combating violence against women and girls.

“Many thanks to NWP for organising the event.”