North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner blasts BBC Wales ‘trash tv’ ‘hatchet job’ after tweets to Wrexham.com

The North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner has strongly criticised BBC Wales after Wrexham.com highlighted a promo for a debate taking place tomorrow night in Plas Madoc.

Over the last week we had been made aware of a recording of ‘The Hour’, a BBC Wales debate show that is being recorded locally tomorrow and broadcast later tomorrow evening. We tweeted a link to one of the debate videos, with our own view on the surprising contents:

"The reality of crime in one Welsh town" "Drugs, robberies, rapes & with rise of terrorism we need more armed police…" 👀 Lovely! @BBCWales in town on Monday. They're looking for views & audience members… Is it your Wrexham? https://t.co/K2ghcAQx3v pic.twitter.com/2smVd7vKEA

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 10, 2018

The video can be found below, with the tweeted trail of “The reality of crime in one Welsh town.”

"I think the worst ones are between the age of 8 and 15. I’ve been broken into 5 times. "

The reality of crime in one Welsh town.

We're debating crime on The Hour, next Monday 12th March coming from Wrexham 10.40pm @BBCOne Wales. #bbcthehour #crime #Wales pic.twitter.com/Nr1UFFoWoK

— The Hour (@bbcthehour) March 10, 2018

The show then got the most engagement is has ever had, with people responding to the comments made, a sample below:

Not the Wrexham I know but then it (the BBC) needs to be sensationalist to get viewers. The town needs investment not scaremongering rubbish. 1/10th the money thrown at Cardiff would transform the place.

— Mark Jones (@markjones_welsh) March 10, 2018

BBC shit house journalism. Sensationalist bollocks.

— Matthew Purslow (@Matthew_P_wxm) March 10, 2018

There isn't a town in the UK that doesn't have these issues. Why does Wrexham have more than some? Because they get help, are treated with respect and are policed sensibly here.

— Mark Jones (@markjones_welsh) March 10, 2018

Been to Wrexham at least 6 times over 20 years including just 2 months ago. Each stay for 6-8 weeks. I have never encountered a single problem when I walked through town by myself on numerous occasions. My only criticism is it's so bloody cold like the rest of the UK ❄️❄️😬

— Coach C 🏀 (@PerthCitizen) March 11, 2018

The programme fronted by presenter Catrin Nye is being produced for BBC Wales by independent outfit, Avanti TV, and is due to be shown tomorrow (Monday) at 10.40pm.

North Wales Police & Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones issued a statement today over the video and debate, saying he had been asked to take part but has refused to cooperate.

He said: “Although I was unable to attend the debate itself, I had originally agreed to do an interview with the programme.

“But I pulled out when it became perfectly clear they wanted to do a hatchet job on Wrexham by generating more heat than light.

“I’m afraid the overwhelmingly negative promotional video confirmed all my worst fears when it made the town sound more like Baghdad on a bad day.”

“This is a scurrilous attempt to besmirch Wrexham. Of course, the town is not perfect and as a local resident and a former councillor I am fully aware of the challenges.”

“But The Hour are over-egging the negatives in a cynical attempt to drum up viewers. Shame on them for this trash TV promotional video.”

The debate is tomorrow evening and as far as we know there are spaces in the audience, and with this controversy it is likely to have an increased awareness locally of the show – which will also be viewable via the iPlayer for the many in the area who can’t pick up BBC Wales.

A refreshing vox pop would be "Yeah, Wrexham is alright really. Vibrant nightlife, decent indies, nice places to eat & stuff going on, plus travel a few mins for some great natural environments." Rather than 'the LLPD need more guns #IncaseISIS' 🤩

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) March 10, 2018