CONCERNS have been raised over police response times to non-emergency crimes.

Cllr Kelly Evans, of Shotton Higher Ward, said she was left waiting for over one hour after calling 101 to report an incident she had seen.

She told the Leader she had reported a gang of teenagers messing with the locks at the 33 Club playing field and was told someone would be sent out. One hour and 20 minutes later she received another call to clarify the details and that someone would be going straight out.

Cllr Evans added: "If they had got into the changing rooms they would have been in and out and gone before anyone turned up.They weren't committing a crime there but it was a potential crime.

"I understand they have other priorities and they are under pressure but it was a long time, it's not good enough.

"It could have been a lot worse, the response time isn't good enough. They haven't got enough funding as they should have and not enough PCSOs but over an hour is too long.

"It makes me less confident in our police force. What if next time when a crime is committed, how long will we have to wait? I would be concerned that noone would get there in time.

"We have warden controlled bungalows, what if they ring up for something, it doesn't give me much confidence. I get it's a hard job and it's awful to say but we are supposed to have confidence in our police, they are supposed to protect us, if we can't have confidence in them who are we meant to have our confidence in.

"The elderly are more vulnerable than me, it's quite scary.

"I stayed on hold to 101 as a matter of principle, a member of the public wouldn't have waited that long."

The issue was discussed at Shotton town council's monthly meeting and it was agreed members would write to Inspector Gareth Cust, of the North Flintshire policing team, to express their concerns.

Cllr Elwyn Jones, of Shotton West Ward, said he had a similar issue when reporting incidents to 101.

He said: "Police won't come out now by the looks of it.

"I was helping out a local constituent who was concerned over noise problems and he asked if I would witness it. I contacted police and they said it was an environmental health issue but environmental health don't work late over the weekend when the noise is.

"I would have thought police would send someone out to have a word and I have written to our MP.

"I also had an incident outside my own house with a group of 15 people messing around. It's worrying when they all sit outside your house and when you go out everywhere is covered in litter.

"I rang the police and as far as I know, no-one has been out to check.

"People ring up 101 and wait 15 minutes and then nothing is happening, it seems like they have abandoned our community. I go cycling everyday and I hardly see police officers out and about.

"It's putting people's health at risk. It wouldn't hurt to come out and have a word with these people. We are at our wits end."

Paul Shea, of North Wales Police said they receive thousands of emergency calls every year across the region.

He added: "Our priority is to deal with emergency calls as we receive somewhere in the region of 80,000 999 calls every year .

"101 is our non-emergency number and although we endeavour to respond to these calls as quickly as possible, we will always prioritise emergency calls and crimes in action.

"We also encourage the public to contact us on our non–emergency live webchat at https://www.north-wales.police.uk/contact/live-chat-support as this also reduces demand on the call centre."