Politician hits back at police over crime row

Janet Finch-Saunders says she is "baffled" by the comments North Wales Police have made about her

A politician has hit back at police chiefs who accused her of damaging the reputation of a town in her constituency.

Janet Finch-Saunders, Conservative Senedd member for Aberconwy, has asked for a meeting with North Wales Police chief constable following a row over crime statistics in the area.

North Wales Police said Finch-Saunders had given the media "incorrect" and "misleading" crime statistics about Llandudno, Conwy, which they said could cost the economy.

Finch-Saunders said she was "baffled" by comments made about her by the chiefs as the statistics were given to her by the west Conwy coastal chief inspector.

"Reading their contradictory version of events, especially with one police officer not even present at the meeting, while downplaying the seriousness of the issues faced by many of my constituents, is certainly not helpful in fostering a positive working relationship," she said.

She added requesting a more "effective and communicative approach" in working together was "crucial" in restoring public confidence.

Finch-Saunders also criticised the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin by saying his comments at the meeting were "strategic".

"But he has got a large budget. Some of that budget is being spent in places like Wrexham and Flintshire.

"We've had nothing in Llandudno for CCTV or extra lighting, where it has been proven that (extra street) lighting would help to cut down anti-social behaviour and criminal damage," she said.

The row broke out following a meeting last week about rates of anti-social behaviour in Llandudno, Conwy county.

The meeting was organised following complaints about vandalism carried out by gangs of young people smashing up shelters on the promenade, stealing from hotels, and vandalising the Venue Cymru theatre.

North Wales Police said Finch-Saunders claimed there were 389 youth crimes in the area last year, but there were actually 198.

Dunbobbin said the statistics "clearly show a sustained drop in reported incidents over recent months" and said reducing anti-social behaviour is "hugely important" to him.

He added reports of criminal behaviour are "being dealt with accordingly" but that "subsequent inflammatory statements from some around the meeting and the current situation in Llandudno risk giving the town an undue and misleading reputation for criminality".

Dunbobbin said: "This would be detrimental for any town, but for a town reliant on visitors, anything that could discourage them from coming would be extremely unfortunate."

He added damaged shelters were only reported on the fourth occasion but "despite this, a suspect was identified, and they are currently going through the Youth Justice system for a number of offences".

Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Evans said: "Despite the local team having engaged with Ms Finch-Saunders over a period of months and having provided concrete statistics showing the positive reduction in the issues in Llandudno, her latest comments reported in local media reflected none of this, and were instead negative, and continue to talk the town down.

"This is damaging to both the local economy and the wider community."

The police force was also angered by Finch-Saunders' plea to residents to log 101 calls and share them with her office.

It urged residents to call 999 in emergencies, and 101 or web-chat for non-emergency situations.

Finch-Saunders said she had been "shocked" by the stats which were revealed at the meeting.

She said a figure of 389 youth crime incidents was given for last year by West Conwy coastal Ch Insp Trystan Bevan - and minutes proving this would be circulated.

Finch-Saunders said the stats had been "spun" and she was "unhappy" that comments had been made about her, rather than efforts going in to fixing the problem.

"Only last week a constituent called in to my office to say a shelter on the prom had been vandalised again. They hadn't reported it because they said they had no faith anything would be done," she said.

The MS said it was likely she had "shaken a few chains" in highlighting the issues, and she had wanted them to be "under no illusion", but she said it was not true that she was "talking the town down".