Extra police costs hits prom day

The May Day event attracts up to 60,000 visitors say organisers

Private security may be used at a seaside fun day in Conwy county after police increased their charges.

Organisers of the Colwyn Bay May Day Prom event said they had been told the bill from North Wales Police would rise from £2,000 to £3,600 this year.

They are now looking at private security and also at the legality of being charged for police services.

North Wales Police said the prom day already received a discount as the true cost of policing the event was £12,000.

The free event, aimed at families, attracts around 60,000 visitors each May Day Bank Holiday.

It includes a fair on the promenade.

They've done such a good job in the past, but I feel this is really unfair Coun Phil Edwards, event committee

Phil Edwards, who represents Bay of Colwyn town council on the event's committee, said rival gangs had caused trouble by fighting in the past and it was important it did not create problems for local people.

But he said the police presence, especially their policy to turn away likely trouble-makers and visiting local pubs, had worked well.

The money to pay for policing had come from charging stall-keepers and donations from the town and county councils.

"I'm not sure how the police get to the figure they have really," Mr Edwards said.

'Full cost'

"They've done such a good job in the past, but I feel this is really unfair."

Some private security is already used for the event, but this might now have to be increased, said Mr Edwards.

Organisers are also looking at the legality of being charged by the police for their presence at a public event.

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers said police forces can recover the "full economic cost" of policing a special event under the Police Act 1996.

"The Colwyn Bay Promenade Day is an event of which the full cost to the service amounts to £12,000 and so a 70% discount has been applied, " she said.

It was a cost quoted as "the opening position" by the police and was "still open to negotiation", she added.