A ZERO tolerance crackdown on anti social behaviour is now being enforced in Denbigh after a huge hike in vandalism over the summer.
North Wales Police say they have been plagued by groups of youths causing problems and are now stepping up policing in three problem areas.
The crackdown was launched after a particularly ‘horrendous’ summer of late night anti social behaviour at the top fee paying Howells School.
Community Sergeant Arwel Ellis told officers a zero tolerance approach should be taken with all anti-social behaviour.
PCSO Nash said: “This is an opportunity to deal with the three problem areas, Howells School, Lower Park area (skate park and bowling green) and Park Street.”
Howells School estates manager for six years Paul Gibson said this year problems have escalated.
“It’s just been a horrendous summer, we do expect a bit of anti social behaviour especially having an outdoor swimming pool but this year it’s been horrendous,” said Mr Gibson.
The estate manager said groups of youths are breaking into the pool at night, jumping in, some in their underwear, ripping up the seating area and breaking windows.
Denbigh PCSO Martyn Nash said there are about four or five different groups of teenagers getting into the pool and he suspects some teens may be under the influence of alcohol.
PCSO Nash said: “Since May we had 23 calls regarding the issues, 17 have been at Howells, two Park Street and four Lower Park area where I have issued seven yellow ASBO cards.”
Mr Gibson added: “We had some lovely seating but one morning we came in and it was ripped up, smashed up and thrown in the pool.
“We had 15 windows broken recently and have probably spent around £1,000 replacing them this year.
“The main concern is sometimes the pool has to be shock treated with a high dose of chemicals every 10 days and so the fear is somebody will end up in hospital as it will burn the skin.”
Howells also hosts international summer camps and church groups and Mr Gibson said these groups also have a hard time with local youths coming on site and being abusive.
Now the school is investing heavily in CCTV with infra-red lighting, HD quality and doubling the amount of cameras on site.
“The police have a good idea who these people are, I really don’t know why it has been worse this summer the police said it used to be the castle and it just seems to be your year.
“We had security in the past, but there is a risk to have a single person on site as it can actually provoke youths to come down and intimidate them.
“We need some prosecutions and that is what we hope to get from these cameras.”
Police said patrols will now be directed to the problem areas every evening and extra officers will be brought in.