On 13 October, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin visited a new hub in Vale Road, Rhyl which has been developed as a space for vulnerable members of the community who might otherwise engage in antisocial behaviour (ASB), such as street drinking in the town centre. The hub, called the Reaching Out Centre (ROC), is located in the former Prince of Wales pub near Morrison’s and is being run by the Sanctuary Trust, which provides various accommodation services and relief and prevention projects across Greater Manchester and North Wales.
The new centre is supported by Denbighshire County Council and North Wales Police as part of a multi-agency response to issues around housing vulnerability, substance misuse, and repeat offending. Above all, the ROC Denbighshire is a community space where any member of the public can walk in, be welcomed without referral, and access the support or conversation they need.
People attending the hub, who can have a range of addiction and other needs, can consume alcohol onsite, but this is done in a controlled environment and they are encouraged to seek advice and support to overcome their addictions. On arrival, attendees give their alcohol to a Sanctuary Trust colleague, who keeps it secure and then monitors when the member of the public requests to have it back in order to drink. While at the ROC attendees also engage in activities such as craft work, gardening, and painting, for example. Homeless prevention officers from Denbighshire County Council are also onsite to assist those visiting the hub and officers from North Wales Police also attend the hub to engage with people using it. The local policing team supports the initiative and its aim of reducing both addiction and ASB in Rhyl. The ROC is open from 10am-3pm Monday to Friday.
Callum Hewitt, Area Manager North Wales for the Sanctuary Trust, said: “We’re establishing a new kind of space in our community, one focused on connection, practical support, and a more collaborative approach to some of the most complex social challenges our communities face.”
Andy Dunbobbin, PCC for North Wales, commented: “I was impressed with my visit to the ROC in Rhyl and their innovative approach to supporting vulnerable people, reducing addiction, and tackling crime. For some, at first glance, it may seem unusual to create a hub for people to drink, but it was clear to me on my visit that this is all being conducted in a managed and monitored environment and that the ultimate aim is to reduce the alcohol being consumed by people, get them the help they need and prevent this alcohol from being drunk on the streets of Rhyl and thus leading to antisocial behaviour and potential crime in the town centre. I would encourage anyone interested to find out more about this project and understand the thinking behind it. I am also encouraged that the project has the backing of a range of services such as Denbighshire County Council and North Wales Police.”
PC Charlotte Hughes from North Wales Police added: “We are thrilled to be supporting and working closely with the ROC, this is something which has been needed for many years, and to see the progress which the citizens have made in such a short period, proves just how much it is working.”
Find out more about the Sanctuary Trust here: https://sanctuarytrust.org.uk/