Extra police patrols and increased hours for welfare centre as safer streets campaign

Increased police patrols, new CCTV and increased opening hours for the town’s welfare centre are being introduced as part of a campaign to make Wrexham’s streets safer.

The local police team, led by Inspector Claire McGrady, are working in partnership with Wrexham Council, following the awarding of over £500,000 to North Wales Police from the UK Government’s ‘Safer Streets’ and ‘Safety of Women at Night’ (SWAN) funds.

Both the Safer Streets and SWAN funding were introduced by the UK Government to improve the safety of public places for all, with a particular focus on reducing violence and crimes against women and girls.

In Wrexham, North Wales Police and the local authority are using the funding to increase patrols across the town, to install new CCTV and street lighting, to provide for the opening of the Hafan y Dref Welfare on an additional night (Friday), to introduce marshals at the weekend and provide vulnerability training to licensees.

It is also hoped that the provision of such services will relieve pressure on A&E and the Ambulance Service.

Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton joined Insp McGrady and Alison Watkin from Wrexham Council for an evening to learn, first-hand, about the campaign to make Wrexham’s streets safer.

During the evening, Ms Atherton met with Insp McGrady and Alison Watkin to discuss the strategies, challenges faced and their successes so far. She also met with the team running the Hafan y Dref welfare centre, where she heard about the positive impact they are having.

Following Ms Atherton’s visit, Insp McGrady said: “The Safer Street funding has provided North Wales Police and Wrexham Council with a unique opportunity to directly tackle issues that the public have raised in relation to their safety in the Wrexham area, we have listened and responded with new CCTV and lighting in key areas of the town and a proactive approach to ensuring visitors at night have a positive experience.”

Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton, added: “I am really grateful to Inspector McGrady and Alison Watkin from Wrexham Council for allowing me to join them for an evening, it is great to see that the funding from the UK Government is being put to excellent use and I was very pleased to hear about the successes so far.

“Wrexham is a very welcoming place, but I know that residents have had concerns about safety, particularly at night. This is why I am particularly pleased that there has been a collective acknowledgement that issues needed to be addressed and, from what I have seen, it is clear that they are being addressed effectively.

“This collaboration between the Police and Wrexham Council is also welcome and I want to congratulate Claire and Alison for their excellent work.

“It is important that stakeholders work together, and this new project shows this is in action. Well done all.”

Pictured: Sarah Atherton MP with Inspector McGrady and the team from the Hafan y Dref welfare centre