North Wales Police are seeking greater powers to tackle anti-social behaviour in Bangor, after a report highlighted over 1,000 incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour in the city over the last 14 months.

Police claim the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which allows the confiscation of alcohol and arrests in certain circumstances, is no longer sufficient to deal with the problems in Bangor.

A map in a police report to Gwynedd Council showed that 486 incidents of anti-social behaviour and 649 crimes occurred between 1 April 2018 – 4 June 2019. Incidents of foul language and aggressive begging were highlighted as growing problems.

The report said that officers needed more powers to tackle problems such as intimidating behaviour, foul language, assaults, consuming alcohol and being under the influence of drugs.

“The existing PSPO is insufficient to deal with the current issues impacting on local businesses, residents, students and tourists,” the report said.

Police said the main objective of a tougher PSPO would be to allow “early intervention and prevention with potential offenders through engagement and education”, with powers of arrest used only as a last resort for persistent offenders.

A new order would give police powers to deal with those who are:

  • Behaving in a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm, nuisance or distress
  • Loitering in a state of intoxication through alcohol or drug induced activity
  • Consuming alcohol or being in possession of open containers of alcohol likely to cause or causing anti-social behaviour is prohibited in the restricted area.
  • Loitering or performing for reward within 10 meters of any cash-point

Gwynedd councillor Catrin Wager, who represents the Menai ward in Bangor, said: “As a local member I often hear arguments representing both sides of the coin.

“We hear of, usually, young women who feel nervous near cashpoints when you have aggressive beggars nearby but also concerns that there are vulnerable people on our streets.

“I would like to see a framework in place so that we can ensure that police are offering help to those in need.”

The order is expected to last for three years if approved.