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Crackdown on high street notorious for cannabis farms

Chris Dearden
BBC News
Reporting fromBangor
BBC Empty shops on Bangor's high street in Gwynedd, north WalesBBC
Bangor's high street is the focus of a new police operation to reduce crime

A high street that has become notorious for empty shops, street drinking and cannabis farms is the focus of a new police crackdown.

A team of six police officers and a sergeant has been set up to do more visible patrols of the high street in Bangor, Gwynedd.

North Wales Police said it had also carried out several raids in the city over the past two weeks and arrested 17 people.

"Bangor isn't any worse than other parts of north Wales for drug crime, but it's in a key location, so supply lines for drugs to Gwynedd and Anglesey come through Bangor," said Supt Arwel Hughes.

The Hirael and Maesgeirchen areas will also have increased police patrols as part of an operation called Renew Bangor.

"Over the next few weeks we will be building up a better picture of the problems that go with the trade in illegal drugs, and targeting those as well," said Supt Hughes.

The force said it was keen to improve the image of Bangor's high street, which has had problems with street drinking and antisocial behaviour in the past.

Four cannabis farms were raided in the city in the months leading up to April 2023, two of which were in abandoned shop buildings on the high street.

An empty boarded up shop on Bangor high street
Police say, while they cannot reopen Bangor's empty shops, they can help to make the city feel safer

Mayor of Bangor Gareth Parry said: "We've heard a lot in recent years about cannabis farms operating on the high street and that preys on people's minds, that organised crime has been going on underneath our noses.

"Seeing the police presence, and hearing about this police operation has been really reassuring and will give people on the street confidence in our city again."

A similar approach in Rhyl last year saw crime fall there by 14%.

Two police officers standing close to the white front door of a pebbledashed house in Bangor, both wearing black uniforms. One in a flat hat looks on as his colleague wearing a traditional helmet opens the letterbox to speak to people inside and ask them to open the door
Police prepare to make another arrest in the city as one of 17 raids in the past two weeks

Officers said they could not reopen Bangor's empty shops, but they could make the city feel safer and a more attractive place to trade.

Nick Antoniazzi, who runs a cafe in the city centre, said: "I've been working on the high street for many years and seen plenty of problems, but not enough of the police.

"There's no substitute for them getting out of their cars, walking the streets and listening to the community - it's really good to hear they will be doing that more often."

A male police superintendent dressed in police uniform looks at the camera in front of a car park
Supt Huws says Bangor is in a "key location" for drug supply lines

Supt Hughes defended the police's record in dealing with crime in the city.

"Historically, we have tried to deal with crime by making lots of arrests – while that got us some short-term results we know that it isn't a long term solution," he said.

"What's different this time is that we want to listen to the community and spot problems as they start to emerge - and then work with the council and the NHS to make sure they don't come back."