ANDY DUNBOBBIN, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, joined Inspector Christopher Owen in Rhyl on Tuesday the May 12 for a walkaround of the town centre and West End to see first‑hand the challenges and interventions being used to address anti‑social behaviour (ASB) and crime in the area.
As Joint Lead on Business and Retail Crime for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), PCC Dunbobbin has made it a priority to visit communities across North Wales to speak directly with businesses, residents, and partners about the impact of retail crime, and the importance of reassurance and support for shop workers.
Rhyl West is classed in Government data as one of the most deprived wards in the country, with the sub-area of Rhyl West 2 being the most deprived small area in Wales in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025. This covers the area around the High Street, Water Street, and Queen Street. Efforts are underway to improve these statistics and ensuring a safe and secure town centre for residents and visitors alike is an important part the regeneration and continued development of Rhyl.
In February, officers recorded an increase in ASB incidents across Rhyl town centre. In response, patrols were intensified to deter disorder and support enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which has been credited with reducing persistent nuisance behaviours in key locations.
During the visit, the PCC spoke with local officers about how targeted patrols and multi‑agency interventions are being used to manage persistent ASB, particularly ahead of the busy summer months, when footfall and tourism increase.
The visit also follows the Royal Assent of the Crime and Policing Act, which introduces new powers to strengthen the response to retail crime. The legislation creates a standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker, ensuring incidents are recorded separately and enabling police to better understand patterns of offending and to plan an effective response.
PCC Dunbobbin also took the opportunity to visit the White Rose Centre, where he met Vicky Welsman, founder of Blossom and Bloom. Established in 2020, the charity provides a welcoming and supportive haven for mothers and babies across the local community.
Blossom and Bloom offer a wide range of support services, including opportunities for socialisation, training courses to support future development and employment, and wellbeing programmes that promote positive mental health, confidence, and resilience. The charity helps mothers and babies build strong support networks, and it was agreed by the PCC and officers that initiatives such as Blossom and Bloom demonstrate the absolute best of Rhyl and the local community.
The PCC also met with high street shop owners to hear directly about their experiences. One long‑standing Rhyl business, Jean Emporium, owned by Nadeem Ahmad on Sussex Street, has traded in the town for more than 40 years.
Nadeem noted that while the town has improved overall in relation to ASB, it remains an issue that can deter visitors.
He said: “People want to come into a town and feel safe, go about their day freely, and we want this to be a place where people dwell and meet friends. But we do still have the element of ASB that can turn people away.”
He added that shoplifting is no longer as significant an issue as it once was.
He explained: “If anything, it tends to be more children causing a bit of havoc. A lot of the time it’s down to boredom on the streets.”
Officers explained how previous PSPOs have had a positive impact, particularly by restricting juveniles from using the Queens Market as an informal hang‑out zone that had become linked to disorder. The venue continues to play a key role in the community, hosting live events and activities and working closely with police, including allowing officers to use its facilities free of charge for children’s engagement events.
Inspector Christopher Owen, North Wales Police, said: “Our officers know Rhyl well and understand the impact persistent ASB can have on residents and businesses.
“Targeted patrols, enforcement of PSPOs and collaborating closely with partners are already making a difference, but we know there is more to do.
“Visits like this are important because they show a shared commitment to listening to the community and using every available power to prevent issues escalating and to keep the town centre safe.”
Project Renew is a targeted, multi‑agency initiative operating in Rhyl, launched in April 2024 by North Wales Police and local partners to tackle persistent crime and ASB.
Using the Clear, Hold, Build approach, the project combines focused enforcement, increased police visibility and sustained partnership working to disrupt repeat offending in hotspot areas such as the town centre and West End.
Since its introduction, Project Renew has contributed to a 14% reduction in recorded crime, demonstrating the impact of sustained, long‑term action in the town.
Officers also spoke positively about the town’s future, with £20 million in UK Government Pride in Place funding set to be invested to improve job skills, community facilities, and prospects for under‑25s.
Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: “Rhyl is a proud town with a strong sense of community, but I recognise the real concerns residents and businesses have around ASB and crime.
“Seeing the issues first‑hand is vital to understanding where further action is needed.
“The new Crime and Policing Act provides important tools to better protect retail workers and tackle persistent offending.
“By working closely with North Wales Police, local authorities, and partners, we can continue to take targeted action and ensure people feel safer in Rhyl.”
