A PUB branded "extremely dangerous" is now the home of a ground-breaking scheme to tackle a mini crime wave in Rhyl.

The Stand Against Violence Initiative (SAVI) has been launched at the recently refurbished Wellington Inn on, Wellington road, with the aim of providing children aged between 11 and 16 and alternative to anti-social behaviour.

Between July and November last year, Police identified a number of teenagers - many of them girls - involved in 190 cases of criminal damage and violent and abusive behaviour.

Rhyl Community Beat Manager Police Constable Darren Ankers, who founded the scheme, said: “We want to give young people better aspirations in life and put them on a path towards creating a better future for themselves.

“We needed something to come between the police and the kids because we don’t want to criminalise them, we want to divert them before that becomes necessary.”

Rhyl Journal:

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones with Rhyl Community Beat Manger Constable Darren Ankers at the Wellington pub launch

The pilot scheme has been backed by £21,000 from North Wales Police, Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones and the Home Office Early Intervention, and will bring together outreach work by the West Rhyl Young People’s Project on Bedford Street with the Brighter Futures consortium’s youth café.

PC Ankers has worked with Crime Prevention Coordinator Donna Taylor to bring together the voluntary organisations to offer access to the Brighter Futures youth café on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to provide a controlled environment with trained staff who can help young people with their issues.

Rhyl Journal:

The SAVI scheme has brought together multiple agencies to tackle youth crime in Rhyl

Tae Kwon Do sessions are also being delivered by leading instructor Prestatyn-based Gareth Pritchard, and there will also be free monthly film screenings at the Little Theatre in Rhyl’s Vale Road, featuring videos warning of the dangers of knife crime, violent crime and County Lines where drugs gangs recruit children and young people as suppliers.

Rhyl Journal:

Libby Webb of the Fire Service Arson Reduction Team, Inspector James Keene, Deputy High Sheriff of Clwyd David Catherall, High Sheriff of Clwyd Stephanie Catherall, PC Darren Ankers, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, Police Crime Prevention Co-ordinator Donna Taylor, West Rhyl Young People's Project manager Hannah Rowan, Sergeant Mark Jones, Marie Mitchell of the Brighter Futures consortium and Rhyl Youth Group and Superintendent Helen Corcoran

Mr Jones, said: “This has the potential to be a really ground-breaking project and I know that police forces elsewhere in the UK are watching it with a view to introducing something similar.

“Darren, Donna and Hannah Rowan from West Rhyl Young People’s Project have given a presentation to Gwent Police and Warwickshire Police are also interested in the way that they are pulling together different organisations to work to tackle the root causes of violence and anti-social behaviour.

“This is a fantastic example of multi-agency partnership working which is being led by the community and I’m delighted to support community leaders who are willing to help and inspire vulnerable young people.”