#Renew Rhyl initiative sees positive results in fighting crime, strengthening community

#RenewRhyl, the partnership initiative running in Rhyl has produced some excellent results that will provide the foundations to area regeneration.

Clear, Hold, Build is a multi-agency strategy to transform the community into a more prosperous area where people would love to live, work and visit and one less susceptible to being exploited by organised crime groups and County Lines.

Within North Wales, the initiative was launched in April this year in Rhyl West ward, one of the most deprived areas in the country, and is a three-phase initiative that uses a combination of targeted high-visibility police operations and covert policing tactics alongside activity and support from partners, and input from residents to protect communities and prevent organised crime groups from operating.

Now, data has been collated which shows #RenewRhyl has led to a 14% drop in recorded crime. This impact includes 35 warrants being executed, over 180 arrests made for offences including drugs, public order, burglary and arson, 338 stop searches, 71 traffic offences noted, and 3 property closure notices granted for issues such as cuckooing, ASB, and drug dealing.

Divisional Superintendent Owain Llewelyn said: “Rhyl is an absolutely fantastic town, and wherever you go and tell people about Rhyl, they’ll tell you childhood stories of growing up here or coming on holiday to stay.

“Like a lot of seaside towns, it’s had its issues, increased levels of deprivation and crime, so when we were looking at ‘Clear Hold Build’ sites… talking to partners, to the community… Rhyl West seemed the obvious ward to choose.

“We’re just coming to the end of the clear phase and I’m really, really pleased with the results of that, and what the partnership have achieved.

He continued: “What we’ve been really clear on though, is this is for the community and involving the community.

“So we’ve been really lucky that we’ve had really good support and buy in from the local community, engaging with our teams on the street… to really identify what the local priorities are in the area.

“The next stage is moving in to the ‘hold’ phase, and that’s a long-term project. I think the importance is about understanding what’s already being done in the town by various partners, to make sure we can co ordinate all of that activity to maximise how effective it is.

Last week, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin visited Rhyl to speak to officers involved in the operation, to hear of its impact and to see areas that have benefited from the strategy being in place.

The PCC was accompanied on a walk around Rhyl town centre by Sergeant Peter Griffiths and PC Declan Hold. Starting from the Police Station, the group visited the seating area behind the Town Hall, Market Street, High Street, White Rose Centre, the Seafront, and Water Street.

While in the White Rose Centre they stopped by the Blossom and Bloom hub to speak to founder Vicky Welsman and her team. Blossom and Bloom is a much-valued charity that serves new mothers in the Rhyl area, offering support to them and their babies and young children during a crucial time in life.

Sergeant Peter Griffiths from the #RenewRhyl team commented: “North Wales Police take the safety of our communities extremely seriously. The Clear, Hold, Build team have been targeting the individuals causing the most harm to the community in Rhyl and will continue to do so as we move to the Hold and build phases. We have worked extremely closely with our partners to help improve the area and help the people most in need.” 

Andy Dunbobbin, PCC for North Wales, said: “It was a pleasure to meet the Clear, Hold, Build team in Rhyl today and to see for myself the impact that the strategy is having in the town. The drop in crime we have seen, and the impressive data around numbers of arrests, demonstrates the influence that Clear, Hold, Build is having in the town.

“But we all know there is more we can do to do to fight crime and ensure the town is a safe place for all residents in line with my plan for fighting crime in North Wales. That’s why it is important to continue efforts as we move into the next stage of the strategy. I pay tribute to the officers involved in the strategy so far, and the commitment and cooperation of Denbighshire County Council and other stakeholders, and I look forward to seeing the next stage of Clear, Hold, Build in action.”

Read more about Clear, Hold, Build here: www.northwales.police.uk/police-forces/north-wales-police/areas/about-us/about-us/clear-hold-build

#RenewRhyl