Police buy in town horse patrols

North Wales Police are buying in two police horses and mounted officers from Merseyside to patrol the streets in the run-up to Christmas.

The force said it would "complement" the patrols of its own officers.

The first patrol is in Colwyn Bay and its town centre manager hoped their "highly visible" presence would help in the crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Chief constable Richard Brunstrom has said he would like the North Wales force to have its own mounted section.

The first patrol was taking place until late evening on Monday.

They will be in Wrexham on Wednesday and will be used elsewhere in the force area in the next three weeks.

Each shift costs the North Wales Police £1,300, which covers the two horses, two contables and their travel costs from Merseyside.

Supt Barry Jones of North Wales Police's central division said: "Horses are used widely and regularly by the force and this year we have decided to incorporate them as part of a planned operation which will be active in December.

"The operation aims to enable people to enjoy the Christmas period without becoming concerned about the small minority who want to spoil the festivities for others."

Ingrid Lewis, the town centre manager in Colwyn Bay, said having mounted police visiting the seaside town was a "wonderful idea".

"They not only reassure shoppers but they look good as well, it's a fantastic idea."

Ms Lewis added the use of police horses was best kept for "high days and holidays" however.

"Liverpool is so close to us it would make sense to buy them in as and when they were needed," she said.

Colwyn Bay did not have more problems than other areas but having the mounted police there re-enforced the message that anti-social behaviour was not welcomed, Ms Lewis added.

I could transfer up there!

A leading member of the North Wales Police Authority says the force needs to spend money on staff rather than using scarce resources for horses.

Eifion Jones made his remarks before a meeting between chief constable Richard Brunstrom and north Wales Labour MPs.

Last month, Mr Brunstrom, who has said he would like the force to have a mounted section, was criticised by MPs.

The force said it could not respond to Mr Jones' comments without knowing what was fully said.

Next week the authority will discuss the establishment of a mounted section.

Mr Jones told BBC Wales: "A decision hasn't been taken on that. My personal view is that we should invest more in human resources rather than horses.

"There may well be merits in the mounted force but perhaps the chief constable should be looking for collaboration across the borders with Merseyside, for example."

Police figures show the section would cost over £190,000 to set up, with annual running costs of £93,000.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Mr Brunstrom said the Home Office's funding formula favoured urban forces and penalised rural areas.

He claimed 120 job losses among backroom staff planned for next March was down to a £2m cut in funding this year and a £3m cut next year.

MPs wanted to know whether or not the problem was one of cash shortage or whether Mr Brunstrom's projects, such as the proposed mounted section, were a factor.

Following the meeting, both Mr Brunstrom and the MPs said progress had been made.

Mr Jones continued: "We must look over the next few weeks over every expenditure that we have in some detail and make sure that we are getting value for money.

"The first priority I believe is for community policing and keeping the staff numbers and the officer numbers that we have, if we can.

"Any sort of trivial pursuits that we have, and I don't believe we have many, should go by the wayside."

The force said it would be inappropriate to comment on Mr Jones' remarks without knowing their full context or content.

It said there would be an opportunity for these matters to be discussed at the police authority next week, and the force continued to do all it could "to make north Wales an even safer place to live, work and visit," it added.

North Wales Police have taken a step towards introducing a mounted section after police authority members backed the move "in principle".

However, the authority wants chief constable Richard Brunstrom to present a detailed business plan first.

Authority members said they wanted to be sure the four police horse unit can be funded without it having an adverse affect on neighbourhood policing.

At present mounted officers are bought in from Merseyside Police as needed.

Thirteen authority members voted in favour - with two abstentions - at an authority meeting in Colwyn Bay.

Several members had voiced concerns about whether it was an appropriate time to introduce a mounted section when 120 civilian jobs were being axed because the force faced a cash crisis.

However, Mr Brunstrom said a mounted section of four horses was an idea whose time had come.

It was possible that a very good deal could be reached with the National Trust to stable the horses at Erddig, near Wrexham, he said, and to share the facility with Cheshire Police.

There was also the possibility of sponsorship.

Mr Brunstrom said that police horses were highly effective and had a huge and manpower-saving impact and that now was the right time to introduce them.

Officers and horses hired from Merseyside are being used in north Wales over the Christmas period.