Phone line plan to tackle anti-social behaviour in Welshpool

The new drive has been launched by the council to encourage people to report incidents in the wake of escalating problems with crime and vandalism in the community.

Evidence will be gathered over two weeks during the summer and will be used to direct future policing policy and enforcement in the town.

A public meeting will be held in the coming weeks to get the views of residents about the project, and booklets will be prepared and delivered to all homes in the town to encourage them to report anti-social behaviour.

Welshpool Town Council will launch a website where people can file reports, man a phone line and set up an incident book in the town's tourist information centre off Church Street car park.

The idea was put forward in an attempt to allay residents' fears. It comes after needles and drug paraphernalia were found dumped alongside the Scansis play area on the town's Oldford estate last month.

The project was agreed following a meeting between representatives of the town council, Dyfed-Powys Police and Powys County Council. The period set aside for the gathering of evidence will be between June 20 and July 7.

The front counter at the town's police station in Severn Road closed about four years ago, although officers do speak to residents if they are working at the base.

Town clerk Robert Robinson said the evidence gathering was a "very important exercise".

He said: "The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and agree a way forward with regards to the reducing anti-social behaviour and the fear of anti-social behaviour in Welshpool. This is a very important exercise and the public are urged to take part so that as much information can be gained as possible.

"The town council, Dyfed-Powys Police and Powys County Council are committed to working together to address the issues identified."

He said a decision on what actions will be taken forward following the project will be made in early September.

But the plan has received a lukewarm reaction over the border in Shropshire, where the mayor of Market Drayton Roy Aldcroft said police should be taking the lead on community safety.

Councillor Aldcroft said: "Anti-social behaviour has traditionally been dealt with by the police and other organisations so I think it should be dealt with by them.

"I don't see it as an individual town or parish council's job for them to take on yet another area. Nowadays the councils are being asked to take on so much it would be a nightmare scenario to take this on as well. It is not something you would want untrained people to look at.

"I don't think it would be a scheme we would want in Market Drayton."

In a bid to tackle the problems in recent months, Welshpool Town Council has been calling for a Designated Public Place Order, which has now been renamed as a People and Place Order, to restrict drinking in the town.

But it had been left disappointed as members had not received backing from Dyfed-Powys Police and Powys County Council in implementing it.