Councillors back introduction of new PSPO for Wrexham town centre and Rhosddu

A new public space protection (PSPO) order aiming to tackle antisocial behaviour and provide support to the “visible vulnerable” in the town, has been approved.

Executive board members unanimously backed introducing the order, which will cover the town centre and Rhosddu area.

The new PSPO will come into play from March 1st and will remain in place for the next three years.

Two orders were piloted for three years in 2016 when issues with anti-social behaviour and drug taking were making both local and national headlines. At the time images of individuals in the bus station and surrounding areas resulted in some publications branding Wrexham a ‘Zombie’ or ‘Spice’ town.

Although the orders were initially introduced to act as a “deterrent, giving the police and town centre wardens powers to warn people of the consequences of their behaviour”, a more holistic and joined up approach was soon adopted by the council, police, health board and various other agencies.

This resulted in the creation of the ‘Gold’ group in 2017 in a bid to tackle local issues with substance misuse and provide support to service users. It oversaw the ‘NPS Taskforce’, which was created to “consider new and innovative ways of addressing the visible and vulnerable cohort” in the town centre.

The project also saw the “everyone in a room, including users” approach – which saw the likes of North Wales Police, Wrexham Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and housing agencies come together under one roof to offer their services to the “visible vulnerable.”

Three years later the scheme is one that has continued to provide support to those in need around the town.

Despite the multi-agency approach to helping the “visible vulnerable” has been carried out in the years since, a report presented to councillors this week acknowledged that there was still a perception issue of antisocial behaviour in the town centre.

Speaking earlier this week Cllr Hugh Jones, lead member for communities, partnerships, public protection and community safety, said the new PSPOs is “one tool in a comprehensive tool box that we use for antisocial behaviour”.

He said: “In terms of the PSPO this is a really comprehensive report and I am pleased and grateful to staff, officers and partners who have spent considerable time bringing this report before members.

“It does two things. It makes it clear that the PSPO is only one tool in a very comprehensive tool box that we use in Wrexham to deal with antisocial behaviour and problems around the visible vulnerable.

“It also demonstrates the degree of partnership working and unique approach we have with these issues in Wrexham.

“It also makes it it clear that the PSPO itself is there to encourage people to engage with the considerable support services we have put in place to dealing with the underlying issues that lead to vulnerability and antisocial behaviour.

“The comprehensive approach Wrexham has adopted had been recognised across the United Kingdom. Councils and police forces have come to Wrexham to look at what we are doing.

“We are doing it in partnership. It is not something Wrexham Council can deal with on its own. There are a whole range of third sector organisations involved in this work.

“It is an important piece in the toolbox there it is right we should establish a degree of legislation around the PSPO.”