Op Restore - 2024 Progress Report

A policing operation to combat serious violence and anti-social behaviour continues to impact positively on communities throughout north Wales.

The Op Restore initiative was launched in April of this year, with targeted patrols assigned to areas where reports of these offence types were higher.

This enhanced operational capability was facilitated by Home Office funding as part of its ‘Hotspot Response’ initiative.   

Since its launch, over 3,642 hours of additional high-visibility patrols have been carried out in 28 areas across north Wales.

These areas have included: Holyhead, Caernarfon, Pwllheli, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llandudno, Rhyl, Holywell, Flint, Shotton, as well as towns and villages within Wrexham County.

A total of 51 arrests have been made across these areas as a direct result of these targeted patrols.

Our officers have exercised ASB powers on 44 occasions during this period, issuing 23 yellow card enforcements and 21 Community Resolution Orders to those involved.

More than 100 Stop Searches have also been carried out by officers deployed as part of the hotspot policing patrols.

Sgt Alyn Smith said: “As a force we recognise that there is still work to do in targeting violent offenders and those who commit the ASB that blights our communities.

“Bringing those individuals to justice remains an operational priority and our officers are fully committed to that objective.

“Based on the latest data, Op Restore patrols across the force area have had a tangible effect in limiting the impact of these offences within north Wales.

“As part of our community engagement work, which is fully aligned with our policing priorities, we recognise that this work is benefiting residents and business owners living in these areas.

“Anecdotally, we’ve had shop owners tell our officers that our high visibility patrols have prevented incidents with certain individuals from escalating inside their premises.

“An enhanced policing presence served as a deterrent in these situations and minimised risk to staff and to members of the public.

“Officers have maintained a robust approach when dealing with youths involved in ASB, and we know from our conversations with residents that our enhanced foot patrols have been welcomed in their neighbourhoods.

“This type of feedback really does validate the work being undertaken and we will continue to review the crime and incident data from these targeted areas so that our operational response is always appropriate and proportionate.”

As 2025 approaches, North Wales Police will continue to provide regular updates in relation to Op Restore on our external news and social media channels.