A VILLAGE could be plunged into “anarchy” after its only full-time police officer was axed.
These are the fears of Mochdre residents who have witnessed a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour during the past two months after it was decided it should share a police officer with Rhos on Sea and a PCSO with Penrhyn Bay.
County Cllr Adrian Tansley, who met police to discuss the issue, said: “I’m disgusted that they’ve taken the police away.”
Figures reveal 30 reported crimes in Mochdre during May – 11 incidents of anti-social behaviour and four of criminal damage.
In June 18 cars were vandalised during a late night attack.
“If my constituents haven’t any police here, this is the sort of thing that’s going to happen,” said Cllr Tansley.
“It’s creating anarchy.
“The vandals responsible for the car damage were apprehended – but people in the village are concerned criminals will become more confident due to a lack of visible police presence on its streets.”
Cllr Peter Jones, chairman of the Mochdre Community Council, warned people might take the law into their own hands.
“The vandals now realise that there is no police presence in the village,” he said.
“My concern is that as vandalism increases, people might try to take the law into their own hands.”
Inspector Ian Verburg said: “We are confident that we have sufficient neighbourhood policing presence in Mochdre, and I think that it is important to point out that Mochdre has not lost an officer, the CBM is still there but has a dual role covering Mochdre and Rhos-on-Sea.
“At the moment we do have a PCSO, who covers that area along with Penrhyn Bay, but this will change as we are taking on another officer funded by the Welsh Government to work in Penrhyn Bay and therefore Mochdre will have their own PCSO.
“Last year there were zero burglaries from dwellings making it one of the safest wards in the county of Conwy,” the inspector added.
“The incident involving criminal damage of cars was an isolated case and we have apprehended those responsible.”