Policing Priority Areas

Rhyl - West ward South London - Camberwell Green Bristol - Stapleton Road Stoke-on-Trent - Grange Estate Bradford - Little Horton/Canterbury

The Home Office's Police Standards Unit (PSU) has already begun working with local police forces to identify key problems.

It is the first time the Home Office has intervened so directly in local policing.

The PSU is led by former senior police officer and Yorkshire Water managing director Kevin Bond.

In its first initiative, the unit will work closely with local police to draw up plans to tackle persistent problems of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom says Rhyl needs extra effort

Action plans are expected to be drawn up within a month.

Chief Constable of North Wales Police Richard Brunstrom,, said the force had volunteered to take part in the pilot scheme because it wanted to be at the forefront of new initiatives.

He said Rhyl posed particular problems for local police.

"It's a quite densely populated urban area with very high levels of unemployment, very severe social deprivation problems and all the social issues that go with it.

"It makes it a difficult place to work and therefore a very good place to try out new ideas."

David Blunkett: Pilot scheme

The West ward of Rhyl was classified as the most deprived area of Wales in 2000.

The town, along with nearby Prestatyn, has also been the focus of the largest drugs crackdown by North Wales Police.

In February, the last of 26 drug dealers was sent to jail following the operation, codenamed Decade.

In a separate initiative, civilian wardens have taken to the streets of Rhyl and Denbigh, offering help and advice to residents.

Organisations involved in that scheme include the community safety group Stars, Denbighshire County Council and North Wales Police.