DISGUST AT MESS LEFT BY DRINKERS
Churchyard in awful state and drug needles found too...
POLICE have issued a stern warning that those using a town centre churchyard for open drinking and anti-social behaviour face arrest and possible prosecution.
The warning came after almost 3,000 cans and bottles were recovered from Holyhead’s St Cybi’s Church.
Jeff Evans, describing the scene as “something out of a horror story”, collected the accumulated rubbish on Friday, having become increasingly fed-up of the problem.
Mr Evans, who until May was a county and town councillor on Holy Island, said: “If I was at a festival or a recycling centre I’d maybe expect this.
“But, no, this was all collected from the blackberry and ivy bushes at the churchyard, between the upper and lower graveyards.”
Having spent seven hours clearing the rubbish, helped by a local girl who was nearby, they were later taken away by council refuse staff.
The total included 2,500 empty beer cans, two sacks of empty bottles, 10 used hypoder- mic needles and plastic bags and empty chip cartons: “I knew of the many issues surrounding anti-social behaviour and drinking within the grounds, and the difficulties experienced by police as they attempt to address the issues,” he added,
“PCSO’s have since attended the churchyard to try and address the issues of drinking, anti-social behaviour and discarding of rubbish with some of the perpetrators of such action.
“But this also needs help from the public, to ensure we don’t allow St Cybi’s to be denigrated again.”
A spokesperson for North Wales Poilice, said: “We’ve stepped up our ongoing operation at St Cybi’s Churchyard, where officers regularly patrol and tackle those behaving in an anti-social manner.
“Between April 1 and September 30, police have received 10 calls from members of the public reporting drinkers causing a nuisance in the churchyard.
“Twenty-one yellow cards have been issued, followed up by anti-social behaviour warning letters being sent to the individuals concerned.
“A Community Protection Notice (CPN) warning letter has also been issued, where a breach of the notice could result in prosecution.
“The public can be reassured that North Wales Police are taking positive action to ensure that drinking in the churchyard is unacceptable and if individuals persist in doing so they will face prosecution.”