PREVENTING anti-social behaviour (ASB) across North Wales is a key priority for the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The issue of ASB forms a key part of Andy Dunbobbin's Police and Crime Plan for the region, which includes commitments to supporting victims and communities and to delivering safer neighbourhoods. 

It has also been brought into further focus by recent action from North Wales Police in the granting of dispersal orders and discussion on social media and in the press around incidents of ASB in communities in the region.

In Wrexham, Inspector Luke Hughes has been clear on his desire to tackle ASB amid ongoing issues and incidents in the city. 

The Leader: Inspector Luke Hughes. Inspector Luke Hughes.

Earlier this week, Flintshire North Inspector Wesley Williams highlighted the force's aims of reducing ASB in the area, especially around Flint Retail Park. 

Now, the PCC is aiming to put an end to ASB across north Wales and has highlighted steps that have been taken to do so. 

Visits have been made by the PCC to areas affected by cases of ASB to learn first-hand how initiatives have been introduced to combat crime and look at what future measures can be put in place across North Wales.

ASB in rural communities is a key concern according to the PCC and the commissioning of a community engagement vehicle in rural communities has introduced new ways to highlight concerns around ASB in areas outside of the main urban centres.

READ MORE: 

The vehicle enables residents to report crime if they do not have access to a police station, or live away in a community without one nearby. 

The PCC noted that in 2022, towns in North Wales benefitted from funding from the Home Office Safer Streets project, with a share of a £1.5m going towards improving street lighting, the installation of CCTV cameras and ASB intervention projects in Wrexham and the Shotton and Queensferry areas in a bid to combat neighbourhood crime. 

On a local level, the PCC has also recently met with community council representatives and community groups across north Wales to discuss and help prevent ASB.

Mr Dunbobbin said: “Residents in North Wales have the right to feel secure in their communities and it is my aim to ensure that anti-social crime can be prevented as much as possible and that people who commit ASB are dealt with appropriately.

“My Police and Crime Plan details what I am doing to reduce ASB and I have worked closely with North Wales Police to help ensure that local community policing teams have a visible presence.

"We are fortunate to have many other projects in North Wales which have dealt with the root cause of ASB in their areas, many of which have been funded through my Your Community, Your Choice initiative.

“I take pride in the steps I have taken to this point in preventing ASB but I understand how many people who have experienced or witnessed ASB do not come forward and report it to the relevant authorities and I want this to change.

"It is important we are sighted of crime in your areas to ensure that we can take the appropriate action. I’d urge anyone who has a crime to report or any suspicions to report it to the police or CrimeStoppers.”