Increased Policing at Wrexham Bus Station in Bid to Tackle Antisocial Behaviour

Increased police patrols have been deployed to Wrexham Bus Station in a bid to tackle antisocial behaviour – however people are also being urged to come forward and report issues directly to officers.

Issues with antisocial behaviour and drug and alcohol abuse in parts of the Wrexham area have faced strong scrutiny in recent weeks, with two public meetings taking place one dedicated to Rhosddu and a wider discussion with the Police & the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.

One area which has been subject to ongoing problems with drug abuse and antisocial behaviour is the Wrexham Bus Station, which earlier this year saw a temporary dispersal order introduced in a bid to tackle the issues – and it being specifically named in the town’s Public Space Protection Order.

(Picture above sent to us by Gavin on Saturday, who said: “Shocking. Discarded syringe in the men’s toilet at @wrexham bus station.”)

Over the past two weeks additional patrols have been deployed to the bus station as part of a dedicated police operation to tackle antisocial behaviour and to also offer reassurance to those who use the facility.

RT @Alice_Rhian
Good to see local @wrexham PCSOs patrolling the bus station,keep up the good work 🙌💪

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) November 14, 2016

Good to see the increased police presence at @wrexham bus station. @NWPInspKneale #niceandquiet #keepupthegoodwork pic.twitter.com/3A7buXKXeD

— Gavin Rodda (@GavinRodda) November 14, 2016

Speaking to Wrexham.com Town District Inspector Simon Kneale said that ‘no arrests’ had been made since the start of the Operation, however officers had ‘engaged with a number of persons who had been asked to leave the area’.

He said: “We are looking at deploying officers there are at night and times of greatest demand to provide reassurance to those who use it and work at the bus station.

“We have had excellent support from members of the public and from people who work in the bus station. They have been asked to report any incidents when officers aren’t there.

“Since the outset we have not had one call to control room relating to antisocial behaviour in the bus station and surrounding area. The Operation will continue into the future.”

He added: “The dispersing has an element of displacement. There are issues in the People’s Market, but we don’t know if that is a direct result. We will direct resources to hotspot areas at certain times.”

Foot patrol in Wrexham Bus Station, nobody using the area inappropriately. Great news! @NWPWrexhamTown pic.twitter.com/jBnzomGsVd

— Rees Ackland (@NWPPCSOAckland) November 18, 2016

Another area which has faced an increase in both scrutiny and criticism in recent months has been Rhosddu, with many residents and politicians calling for tougher action on issues with drug abuse and antisocial behaviour.

Last week saw North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and North Wales Police’s Chief Constable Mark Polin face tough questioning over the seemingly lack of action being taken in the area.

Insp Kneale noted that issues in Rhosddu are similar to that of the bus station, with ‘vulnerable persons and drug users being needed to be addressed from a partnership point of view’.

He said: “The main issue is drug and street dealing, which is being addressed by ourselves. We are in the process of implementing a robust response to that, primarily in Rhosddu and parts of Wrexham.”

An increased use in what were previously known as ‘legal-highs’ was also noted as a problem currently being presented in the Wrexham area.

In May 2016 the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 came into force, bringing in new powers to combat the sale, production and misuse of New Psychoactive Substances (legal-highs).

The legislation has made it an offence to produce, supply, and offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, import or export psychoactive substances carrying a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment – so the ‘legal’ element of the nickname is now untrue.

Insp Kneale said: “We do know the prevalence of NPS (New Psychoactive Substances) in the Wrexham area that is being supplied. It is a new phenomenon in the UK and only this year was legislation brought into prohibit it.

“It is a real issue nationally. North Wales Police are ahead of the game in dealing with it.”

One question raised several times over the past month is the success of the town centre’s Public Space Protection Order, which was introduced earlier this year to tackle issues which have a ‘detrimental effect on the quality of life of those visiting, living and working in the area’.

Ahead of the implementation of the PSPO it was claimed there were over 300 incidents reported to the police in the last 12 months – including drunkenness, drug abuse, rowdiness, fighting and behaviour that causes alarm, harassment and distress to local retail businesses and visitors to the Town Centre and Bellevue Park.

However Insp Kneale noted that that the PSPO was not just about enforcement, but also as a method to signpost services to vulnerable persons who need help.

He said: “It is important to know that some of the persons deemed to be antisocial are vulnerable and often homeless. We are working closely with partners to support, offer direction and actively signpost services.

“It is all part of the PSPO. It is not meant to be just about enforcement, the ethos was to offer them help and signpost services. The PSPO has been used when necessary.”

People who witness antisocial behaviour are also being encouraged to contact North Wales Police directly and to make them aware of the issues.

Wrexham.com asked Insp Kneale about the perceived issues with the 101 system – with concerns that people cannot always access the system or that there is too long a delay in the response.

He said: “There is a lot of perception with 101. North Wales Police performs highly with the 101 system. The average time taken to respond is low. I am confident the system works and I encourage people to use it.”

Insp Kneale added: “We will continue to react to reports of drug dealing and open drug use. There a number of tactics we use to deal with that.

“But people aren’t reporting it. The Operation began on the 9th and prior to that there was one report to the Control Room about the bus station.

“We can only react to what people are telling us – we need people to tell us when it is happening.

“There are a number of ways aside from 101 where people can contact officers – including by social media, the North Wales Police web chat and also via the local PCSOs.

The apparent lack of information being supplied to the police despite ‘well known’ drug dealers operating was an issue raised last week at the Police & Crime Commissioner meeting – with follow up contact promised by those who were there and who were in touch with those recording information at a local level.

As we reported last week Chief Constable Polin said that police would be ‘taking a look at the intelligence picture’ with a view to taking more direct action, although did point out that if the intelligence flow was not there to enable such action he would be looking for help to ‘unblock that blockage’.

Anyone wishing to contact North Wales Police can do so through 101 and their designated webchat system. You can also contact your local PCSO – many of which are also on Twitter!