Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is continuing to work with North Wales Police in a bid to help them re-establish a town centre presence in Prestatyn.
The town’s original Police Station on Nant Hall Road in Prestatyn shut several decades ago, and was replaced for many years by a station on Victoria Road. When this was closed in 2013, a police base was set up within part of the former council offices at 6-8 Nant Hall Road. Frustratingly, the police were forced to move out three years ago, as the council required vacant possession for a sale of the premises which has since fallen through.
Following the closure of the base, there have been concerns about police visibility in the town and, over the last couple of years, James has been working closely with the police to make the case for, and to explore further, options for the re-establishment of a new permanent base in Prestatyn.
He said:
“The departure of the police from Nant Hall Road was followed by a spate of burglaries, car thefts and low-level crimes, which may or may not have been coincidental, and more recently there have been reports of anti-social behaviour in the town.
“There is a strong desire on behalf of residents and local businesses to help the police re-establish a town centre presence of some kind and I am in regular contact with the police exploring options for this.”
He added:
“The former council offices appeared to work well as a site from which policing in the town could be delivered. There was space for the parking of several police vehicles immediately outside, allowing quick response times when necessary. The location of police officers within the town centre meant that they were more visible and at least anecdotally, they were more aware of what was going on in an increasingly busy town centre.
“In recent times, the police have had an agreement with the Fire Service, but this has been far from ideal, with the station being located slightly out of the town centre. My understanding is that, despite best efforts, the arrangement has not worked particularly well.
“Prestatyn is a significant town regionally and in the summer months the influx of holiday makers boosts its population substantially. Much smaller towns and villages in Denbighshire, such as Rhuddlan, have a permanent police base, so I believe it is only right that Prestatyn should do also.
“Whilst I appreciate that it is often easier to report non-urgent crimes by phone or online these days, the presence of a police base can act as a deterrent to crime and be invaluable in terms of ensuring rapid physical response. I believe it can help provide residents and businesses in the town with peace of mind and make all feel safer. I will continue working with North Wales Police, the Home Office and the County Council to pursue the re-establishment of this much needed facility in Prestatyn.
"There is now a much stronger commitment to a solution being found and I am optimistic that progress can be made in the coming months.”
