Published date: 01 September 2016 |
Published by: Jonathan GrieveRead more articles by Jonathan Grieve
ANTI-social behaviour from drug addicts and alcoholics in Wrexham town centre must be stamped out.
That is the view of Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones, who said a “zero tolerance” approach needed to be taken to tackle problems in an area where community leaders and residents are feeling the effects of a growing influx of people with addiction issues.
Cllr Steve Wilson, whose Grosvenor ward covers Rhosddu, told the Leader last month that he felt agencies in the area which help those with dependency issues had a responsibility to the rest of the public in relation to anti-social behaviour.
And Mr Jones called on agencies to work together to tackle the issue.
“There’s no reason why people should have to put up with anti-social behaviour,” he said.
“I have a particularly strong view of zero tolerance when it comes to that.
“Yes we do need centres so people can have their problems addressed but that doesn't mean the people who live around them should have to put up with more anti-social behaviour as a result – absolutely not.
“What’s important is that the local authority, social services and the police work together to stop this kind of behaviour happening in the first place and of course, if it does, dealing with it as quickly as possible.
“It is hugely important that where we have rehab centres, for example, the people living near to those centres have reassurance from agencies like the police that there are no problems in the streets as a result.”
Last month, CAIS chief executive Clive Wolfendale said he understood residents’ frustrations, but pointed to the positive work done by the charity.
He said: “I understand the concerns of people in Wrexham town centre, having spent an evening walking around the area recently.
“The problem is about the growth in demand for services as much as their availability. It’s important to recognise the majority of individuals involved originate from the rea.
“CAIS has been engaging with partners look at these concerns and has put in place a number of actions.
“We are working alongside enforcement agencies in tackling some of the underlying and long-term causes of this anti-social behaviour in Rhosddu.
“We’re co-ordinating efforts to clean up parts of the town which have a problem with litter and discarded needles.”
In April, Wrexham Council launched a crackdown on yobbish behaviour in Rhosddu Park and Cemetery after it approved a three-year Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
Council staff and police can issue fixed penalties of £100 for anti-social behaviour such as drinking, drug-taking, sleeping rough and littering in the area.
Parents say they are too intimidated to take their children to the park because of “unsavoury characters” congregating there.
Cllr Wilson said Rhosddu Park was becoming a ‘no go’ zone.
The introduction of the PSPO came after a spate of anti-social behaviour which was having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those who live nearby.
The council received many reports of drink and drug abuse, rough sleeping, urinating in public, dog fouling and dogs out of control.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/166114/-zero-tolerance-approach-to-anti-social-behaviour-in-wrexham.aspx
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