August 20, 2026 - 192 views
Communities across North Wales are being promised stronger protection from persistent anti-social behaviour under new powers contained in the Crime and Policing Act 2026.
The legislation gives police, councils and other agencies additional tools to deal with behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress, while also strengthening the rights of victims who feel that their complaints have not been properly addressed.
The changes are particularly relevant to North Wales, where anti-social behaviour remains a stated priority for neighbourhood policing teams in several coastal communities.
In Conwy, North Wales Police currently lists ASB as a priority in areas including Llandudno, Conwy, Llandudno Junction, Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr, with officers carrying out patrols in hotspots and using available powers to disrupt and prevent offending.
Further along the coast, tackling ASB in Rhyl town centre is a specific priority for North Wales Police. Officers are working with partner agencies and youth justice, while a Public Space Protection Order is being used to tackle problems including street drinking. ASB and retail crime are also priorities in Prestatyn and Abergele, where police say increased patrols and partnership work are taking place.
Colwyn Bay has also had a new Public Space Protection Order in place since March this year. The three-year order was introduced by Conwy County Borough Council in partnership with North Wales Police and provides additional powers to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour in the designated area.
Under the new legislation, one of the most significant changes is the introduction of the Respect Order.
The new civil order is aimed at persistent adult offenders and can prohibit them from carrying out specified activities associated with their anti-social behaviour. Courts can also impose positive requirements designed to address the underlying causes of the behaviour.
Importantly, breaching a Respect Order becomes a criminal offence, meaning police can arrest someone suspected of breaching the order. The legislation allows orders to be sought by relevant authorities including police forces, local authorities and registered housing providers.
The Act also extends the maximum period for which dispersal directions can operate from 48 to 72 hours, subject to a review at 48 hours.
There are also changes affecting vehicles. The legislation strengthens the ability of police to deal with nuisance vehicles and other anti-social use of vehicles, including behaviour such as illegal off-road biking.
For victims, another important element is the strengthening of the ASB Case Review, formerly known as the Community Trigger.
The case review gives repeat victims an opportunity to ask partner agencies to examine what action has been taken when they believe their concerns have not been adequately addressed.
In the North Wales Police area, the existing threshold is three reported incidents within six months for an individual victim. Alternatively, five people in a local community who have separately experienced similar incidents can collectively request a review. Businesses, individuals and community groups can all be victims.
The Office of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner says the review process already covers incidents reported to police and other relevant agencies, including the six North Wales councils and housing providers.
Andy Dunbobbin, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, welcomed the new measures.
He said he knows from speaking to residents across North Wales that ASB can have a devastating effect on people's quality of life.
He highlighted problems including nuisance vehicles, persistent intimidation and vandalism, saying residents should be able to feel safe in their communities.
The legislation also introduces new requirements around the collection and sharing of ASB information, intended to give authorities a clearer picture of the scale and nature of the problem across England and Wales.
Government figures show that recorded police ASB incidents across England and Wales have fallen substantially over the longer term, but the Government says gaps remain in data collected by non-police agencies such as councils and social housing providers. The new legislation is intended to improve that picture.
For North Wales, the impact of the new powers will ultimately depend on how effectively police, councils, housing providers and other agencies use them locally.
But with ASB continuing to feature among neighbourhood policing priorities in coastal communities from Colwyn Bay and Llandudno to Rhyl, Prestatyn and Abergele, the changes could provide additional tools for dealing with the behaviour that residents say has the biggest impact on their quality of life.
The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner is also expected to have a greater role in making sure victims understand the ASB Case Review process and know where they can turn if they believe their concerns have not been adequately addressed.
