ALMOST two thirds of indecent acts committed in public in North Wales over the past five years were in Flintshire or Wrexham.

A Freedom of Information request to North Wales Police revealed there were 57 reports of people committing an ‘act of outraging public decency’ between 2006 and 2010 – 35 of which were in Flintshire and Wrexham.

In 2010 a total of 17 incidents were reported, seven of which were in Wrexham and two of which were in Flintshire.

In 2009 there were 10 incidents reported to police, five in Wrexham and four in Flintshire.

Wrexham was by far the worst area with a total of 28 incidents over the five year period, compared to nine in Denbighshire and Gwynedd, seven in Flintshire and just two in Anglesey and Conwy.

The most common offences were indecent exposure, gross indecency and outraging public decency.

The majority of acts - a total of 18 - were committed in doorways, eight were in public toilets and six were in open spaces such as parks.

Offences were also committed in car parks, shops, cars, woods and communal gardens and hallways.

Of the offences committed, nine people were charged for a total of 16 offences and eight people were cautioned for 22 offences.

The shock statistics come after a complaint was lodged with police last week by a member of the public (see story above).

Isobel Watson, Wrexham’s town centre manager said: “Wrexham Council has received no complaints on this issue.

“There are a number of measures in place to discourage this behaviour.

“These include a visible security presence at public places such as the bus station and our indoor markets.

“CCTV is in operation throughout the town centre and council owned public toilets are closed from 6pm.”

Steve Jones, Flintshire Council’s head of streetscene said: “The toilets in Buckley are owned and maintained by the town council.

“All county council owned facilities are closed and locked between the hours of 6pm and 8am, regularly inspected and cleaned during the day and any reports of anti-social behaviour would be reported to the police.

“The forthcoming review of the council's public convenience service will consider the impact on anti-social behaviour in and around the facilities.”