AN INITIATIVE to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town centre and other areas of Rhyl has been adopted.

Following a successful three-year Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), a second order has been approved by Denbighshire County Council following an application by North Wales Police.

The order was approved following a statutory one-month consultation with members of the public and businesses to share their views on the plan which places stricter controls on the consumption of alcohol, loitering under the influence of substances and begging in a designated restriction area within Rhyl town to prevent and reduce anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Mark Young, the Council’s lead member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “The first PSPO was extremely successful and helped give extra powers to tackle anti-social behaviour.

“This new order will build on the work in the first order and will have a positive impact on the local community by further reducing anti-social behaviour and helping improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in this part of Rhyl.

“Creating a safe and welcoming town centre is key to regeneration and the town centre vision, and we will continue to work in strong partnership with North Wales Police to tackle these issues, which will be both through support and advice as well as enforcement where needed."

The order prohibits such activities from taking place and enables fixed penalty notices to be issued to people if individuals engage in street drinking, begging and anti-social behaviour in certain areas of the town centre and West Rhyl.

Additional powers include being able to disperse large groups causing anti-social behaviour not connected to the use of drink or drugs, acting on third-party intelligence to move on those aggressively targeting members of the public for the purposes of begging and being able to move on street drinkers with unopened containers.

If people ignore the fixed penalty notice, or refuse to comply with it, individuals may be taken to or the case heard before a Magistrates Court.

The ability to designate an area as a PSPO was created by the 2014 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act which is intended to help communities deal with anti-social behaviours that are causing problems and nuisances in their areas.

District Inspector James Keene of North Wales Police said: “I am pleased the second PSPO for the area in and around the town centre of Rhyl has been approved.

“This order provides police with additional powers to deal with nuisance or problems within the defined area that are detrimental to that community and its members quality of life.

“This order is in no way intended to restrict anyone’s personal freedom, but alongside existing legislation will provide greater flexibility in addressing persistent antisocial behaviour.

"The successful application of this PSPO demonstrates North Wales Police’s commitment to work with partners such as Denbighshire County Council to tackle the most persistent, unreasonable and impactful forms of anti-social behaviour.”