Written question WQ83147

Ensuring the people of Wales feel safe in their communities from crime, violence and anti-social behaviour is a key priority for the Welsh Government. Whilst tackling and reducing crime and violence is not directly a devolved matter, many of the drivers that impact on community safety are devolved. We are determined to do everything in our power to make the people of Wales safe, working closely with our police and local government partners, and providing funding and other support.

Our Programme for Government commits to maintain our funding for 500 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) across Wales and expand their number by 100.

We are focussed on ensuring North Wales has a stronger, greener and fairer future. We are investing in the economy and jobs, working with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board and the UK Government on the North Wales Growth Deal, which offers almost £1bn investment opportunity across the whole of North Wales.

Welsh Government jointly funds the Wales Police Schools Programme which operates in all primary and secondary schools in Wales delivering education on substance misuse and wider community and personal safety issues at all key stages of the curriculum. The aim of the Programme is to reduce substance misuse and the devastating effects that high levels of drug use can have on communities in Wales such as Rhyl.

In January 2020 the then Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government announced our Transforming Towns agenda with a package of support for town centres which is now worth nearly £136 million – building on existing projected investment of £800 million in our towns since 2014. This investment remains vital in supporting town centres like Rhyl. Six local authorities in North Wales, including Denbighshire, have been allocated £22 million as part of this programme. £15.6 million of the North Wales allocation has gone to Rhyl to the redevelopment of the Queen’s building and the development of a contemporary living accommodation/shared retail space.

As part of the Welsh Government Transforming Towns programme, Rhyl has been identified as the priority town centre for Denbighshire in the North Wales Regional Plan due to its stubbornly high deprivation statistics. There is a notional allocation of £4 million of Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) funding for Rhyl over the three years 2018-21. Both the North Wales Regional Regeneration Plan 2018-21 and the Rhyl Town Centre Masterplan identify the need for investment to Rhyl’s High Street.