Statement on behalf of Criccieth Town Council on Anti-social behaviour in the town

Criccieth Town Council and many residents of the town are very aware of the extremely distressing incidents of antisocial behaviour(ASB) by some young people in recent weeks.

Ever since the initial reports of such behaviour came to light the council has reacted with concern to these reports urgently and undertaken various actions within its responsibilities to mitigate this totally unacceptable and unpleasant activity which is so distressing for all of us.

Shortly after the first reports of ASB two or three weeks ago, a member of the council requested discussions with senior members of North Wales Police at their HQ in Bae Colwyn. A commitment was given at that meeting that measures would be implemented with immediate effect, to control and hopefully quickly prevent such behaviour. Soon after this first meeting the council received communication from NWP confirming that the Gwynedd South (our local area within the constabulary) neighbourhood policing team would vigorously step up their activities in the town, and provided details of what this would entail given that, as with many authorities their resources are stretched right now.

It soon became clear that there was a greater policing presence in the town and last weekend following further ASB an arrest was made and one of the young people was apprehended. NWP have since applied to Gwynedd Council to extend the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that was already in place around the esplanade and east beach up to the castle, to include the whole of the town centre. This allows the police special measures to deal with ASB. Sadly there have still been further incidents of this distressing patterns of behaviour in the past few days and the police have been very active in the vicinity and overnight Thursday/Friday. Three further arrests have been made.

A meeting has been organised by Gwynedd Council next Wednesday 2 October 4.30 – 6pm at the Library to get public views on the extension of the PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) already in this area. It would be good to have as many residents as possible to attend.

The Town Council is fully aware of the anxiety, distress and annoyance this pattern of behaviour is causing and will hold a formal meeting with the local neighbourhood policing team early next week to receive a full report from officers of events to date and what other actions are being put in place to prevent further incidents.

Meanwhile if anyone sees or becomes aware of any such behaviour in the coming days, where there is a risk of danger to individuals or damage to property, you are advised to call 999 to report matters and the police can respond urgently.

Cllr. Delyth Lloyd, Chair: Criccieth Town Council
28.09.2024

Update by North Wales Police 22 October 2024

There have been no further ASB incidents or criminality reported over the past 7 days which is really positive and the youths are complying with their bail conditions. We are working with housing ,Gwynedd youth support workers and the school to have meetings with the youths and parents for longer term prevention.