25-YR-OLD MAN ARRESTED OVER FLASHING INCIDENTS SPATE
A team of young people are laying down the law in North Wales.
The 30 members of the Youth Commission – the first of its kind in Wales - are helping to draw up a new plan for the way the region is policed.
The scheme was set up by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and is being overseen by his deputy, Ann Griffith, whose portfolio includes children and young people.
All of the members are aged between 14 and 25 and the four main topics identified by them as major concerns are the relationship between young people and the police, drug issues, anti-social behaviour and mental health issues.
The North Wales Youth Commission meets once a month under the guidance of Leaders Unlocked, a specialist social enterprise organisation that works with young people across the UK and which has been running eight similar schemes across England since 2013.
Project manager Alison Roberts said: “The young people who sit on the commission all applied for the role and were selected from as wide a range of communities as possible from right across North Wales.
“We have A* students who are really academic, some who are or have been through the care system, young people form ethnic minorities and others who have experience of the criminal justice system.
“It isn’t just about sitting around a table at our monthly meetings. Members of the Commission are speaking to other young people in schools, colleges, youth clubs and even those in the youth justice service to get their views and come up with ideas and solutions to feedback to the PCC. The hope is by mid-February we will have spoken to 1,200 young people across North Wales. The plan then is to put the information gathered before a conference which will be run by the young people themselves.
“What eventually comes from that conference will be recommendations that will be put to the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and his deputy Ann Griffith and will then form part of the next North Wales Police and Crime Plan.”
Kieran Hughes and Mair Williams both of Anglesey, Sarah Goodsir, of Holyhead and Joshua Taylor of Caernarfon, all 17, say their Youth Commission role is giving them a chance to have voice, something they didn’t have before.
Kieran, who has plans on becoming a police officer, said: “As young people we need to build a relationship with the police and deal with what I see as a lack of respect. However, I accept my view may be biased. We see problems stemming from drugs and anti-social behaviour right across North Wales; it’s a big problem and something that can’t be cured overnight.”
Mair, who wants to become a journalist, said: “One issue for me is that many young people just aren’t afraid of getting in trouble or get caught these days. I’m interested to learn how the police use the powers they have.
“I have always had an interest in mental health issues and I’m keen to learn how the police deal with people who may have issues with their mental well-being.”
Joshua, who like Sarah is a police cadet with both having future plans to become police officers, said: “There is such a massive problem with drugs right across North Wales. I’ve heard of incidents where students have turned up for school and been found to be in possession of drugs.
“Parents have been called in but there has been no police involvement. That can’t be right.”
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Griffith, who has a lead responsibility for young people as part of her role said: “This is a wonderful and innovative project. I have no doubt the voice of young people will feature strongly in our next Police and Crime Plan.”
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said: “I was fascinated to hear some of the views from these young people. It’s clear they are putting a great deal of thought into the issues that affect young people and in particular in their day to day relationships with the police.”
A 25-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure on Anglesey.
The arrest on Wednesday follows four reported flashing incidents in the area within a matter of weeks at the end of last year.
A statement published by North Wales Police on Thursday said: “A 25-year-old man is currently in custody on suspicion of indecent exposure. He was arrested last night and our enquiries are ongoing.
“If you have any information that can help our investigations, please contact us on 101.”
A warning was initially issued by police in November, urging women and girls out alone after dark on Anglesey to stay vigilant following two reports of indecent exposure and assault.
The incidents that happened in Menai Bridge and in Gaerwen. Police have not so far said if they are linking them.
The first incident happened around 6.20pm on November 6, at Menai
Bridge Viewpoint on the A5 Holyhead Road between Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge.
A female was out running at the time when she claims a man exposed himself to her before assaulting her.
The second incident happened less than a week later at around 6pm on November 12, near Huws Grey Builders Merchant on Lon Groes, Gaerwen Industrial estate.
The man is believed to have been exposing himself before assaulting the victim as she walked passed him.
Just weeks later, another incident took place at about 7.35am on December 11 on Holyhead Road in Llanfairpwll – the same spot as the first.
Then on Christmas Eve, a man has been seen exposing himself to passing drivers in the fourth reported flashing incident.
Police say the incident happened on the footbridge over the A55 between Llanfairpwll and Gaerwen at around 12.30pm – near the same spot as two of the three other incidents.