Cracking Down on Crime and Making Wrexham Safer

Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live. That’s why I’m working with North Wales Police to ensure Wrexham has its share of new police officers and increased budgets. Already, the UK Government is delivering on this: for the current year (2021-22) the Government has announced that it will increase Police budgets in North Wales by £9.6 million. This will also fund the addition of 76 new Police officers in Wales.

I also know many residents are concerned about antisocial behaviour and crime in our town centre as we emerge from the pandemic. That is why I called on the Senedd Member, the Police and the Council to meet with me to discuss these concerns. I am pleased that the Police and the Council attended roundtable, providing an excellent opportunity to discuss the issues and the strategies in place. 

Although the Senedd Member denied that Wrexham faced problems with crime and antisocial behaviour, the Police have now accepted there are concerns and have acted: dispersal orders have been issued recently and local Police teams are taking a proactive approach to managing antisocial behaviour.

To tackle some of the local Policing issues in Wrexham, I am pleased that North Wales Police have also received over £500,000 from UK Government's 'Safer Streets' and 'Safety of Women and Girls at Night (SWAN)' funds. This will go towards a number of initiatives to make our town centre safer, these include: additional street lighting and CCTV, the opening of a welfare centre in the town on Friday and Saturday nights, and increased Police patrols. I will continue to support Wrexham Police with this initiative and have been out with the Police to see it firsthand.

I am also working with HMP Berwyn to reduce reoffending and create employment opportunities to get people out of the cycle of crime. In partnership with the prison, businesses leaders in Wrexham and individuals from with experience from similar projects, I will be part of an Advisory Board to help support employment opportunities for individuals as they leave HMP Berwyn.

News

Knife Angel sculpture coming to Wrexham

The famous 27ft-tall Knife Angel sculpture will be coming to Queen’s Square in Wrexham in October.

The Knife Angel, created by Alfie Bradley, features messages from families of victims of knife crime engraved on the sculpture’s wings.

Home Office Questions: Safer Streets

At Home Office questions, I was pleased to be able to celebrate the work of North Wales Police and their 'Safer Streets' initiative, made possible thanks to over £500,000 of funding from the UK Government.

Ministry of Justice Questions: Residential Women's Centre

I asked the Ministry of Justice about their plans for a Residential Women's Centre (RWC) in Wales. The RWC was proposed as an alternative to prison for women in Wales and, having worked with the Ministry of Justice throughout the proposals I am looking forward to hearing more about the plans.

Seeing the 'Safer Streets' project in action

Recently, I joined Inspector Claire McGrady from Wrexham Town Police and Alison Watkin from Wrexham Council for an evening to learn, first-hand, about the campaign to make Wrexham’s streets safer.

Welcoming the Police's 'Safer Streets' project

I welcome the news that the 'Safer Streets' project in Wrexham is well underway, following the UK Government's awarding of £339,000 to North Wales Police for the project.

Antisocial behaviour and crime roundtable with community leaders

Last week, I hosted a roundtable discussion with the Leader of the Council, Mark Pritchard, and Wrexham town Police Inspector Luke Hughes to discuss antisocial behaviour and crime across Wrexham, with a specific focus on the town centre.

Tackling anti-social behaviour and crime

I have written to the Wrexham Senedd Member, Lesley Griffiths MS, Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard, and Police Inspector Luke Hughes to invite them to a meeting to discuss the ongoing issues crime and anti-social behaviour issues in the town centre.

Beating crime plan launched

This week, the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary announced the UK Government's new 'Beating Crime Plan'. This plan shows the Conservatives care about making our communities and streets safer, as we promised in 2019.

Meeting with Victim Support

Victim Support is the leading independent charity in Wales and England for people who have been affected by crime and traumatic incidents.