November 11, 2026 - 250 views
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin has visited Colwyn Bay town centre to meet local businesses and police officers as part of a national campaign tackling business crime.
The visit on Monday, 9 November, coincided with Safer Business Action Week, which runs until 15 November and aims to strengthen partnerships between businesses, police and local organisations.
Accompanied by West Conwy District Inspector Catherine Walker and PC Jacob Robbins, Mr Dunbobbin visited several areas of the town centre, including Sea View Road, Station Road, Penrhyn Road and Abergele Road.
He also called into Stanley & Lottie, a gift shop on Penrhyn Road, where he met owner Caroline Stanyer to discuss the challenges facing town centre businesses and the importance of working together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
The discussions highlighted the work being undertaken by local traders, the Bay of Colwyn Business Forum and North Wales Police to improve safety, encourage shoppers and support the town's economy.
Mr Dunbobbin said strong partnerships were essential in reducing crime and improving public confidence in town centres.
He said tackling crime and anti-social behaviour was important not only for keeping people safe, but also for encouraging investment and supporting local businesses.
Inspector Catherine Walker said neighbourhood policing teams worked with businesses throughout the year, with additional high-visibility patrols taking place in Colwyn Bay and Llandudno during the campaign.
Officers are visiting shops to speak with staff, offer crime prevention advice and gather information about issues affecting local traders.
She said police were seeing an increase in shoplifting detection rates, but acknowledged there was more work to do to ensure businesses and shoppers felt safe.
Safer Business Action Week is led nationally by the National Business Crime Centre and brings together police forces, local authorities, retailers and other organisations to tackle crime affecting businesses.
This year's campaign also comes following the introduction of a standalone offence of assaulting a retail worker, providing additional legal protection for people working in shops and customer-facing roles.
