A Rhos on Sea<\/a> man said: \u201cI would love to join you guys to keep the area safe. (I\u2019m) 6ft 4 and always available to walk the streets keeping the public safe.\u201d A Bangor<\/a> woman was the same. \u201cHow do we become a foot soldier?\u201d she asked. \u201cI would like to help out on walkabouts.\u201d<\/p>\n Those making their presence felt in the two towns were members of The Shield, a UK-wide group set up 11 months ago to \u201csafeguard the vulnerable and keep streets safe\u201d. Motivated by police funding cuts, they aim to be a visible deterrent. The group\u2019s mantra is \u201cthe people protecting the people\u201d.<\/p>\n After a shaky start, the group has got organised, adopted a constitution and became a Community Interest Company. It aims to adopt charitable status before the year is out. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter<\/a> sent twice daily to your inbox<\/p>\n Two Shield volunteers keeping a watchful eye on Llandudno(Image: The Shield)<\/p>\n North Wales Police<\/a> said it was aware of social media posts highlighting the group’s presence in Rhyl. The force said it is not working with The Shield or any other similar organisation.<\/p>\n A spokesperson added: \u201cVolunteer groups of this nature can often create significant legal, safety and operational risks that can undermine justice rather than serve it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile often motivated by a desire to protect communities, many groups lack sufficient formal training, oversight, and professional evidence-gathering standards, leading to consequences that can endanger the public and compromise law enforcement efforts. In some situations, it can result in the mis-allocation of police resources, instead of focussing officers on investigating crime.\u201d<\/p>\n All Shield volunteers must be DBS-checked for criminal records, and all must undergo \u201ccompliance training\u201d to understand the limits of what they\u2019re expected to do. Which isn\u2019t much: they can\u2019t intervene with street altercations and disputes, merely observe and report to the police. It\u2019s a kind of organised \u201ceyes and ears\u201d with surveillance forms and reporting sheets.<\/p>\n This approach hasn\u2019t prevented criticism. As the group\u2019s online profile grows, the group finds itself countering accusations of vigilantism and far-right rabble rousing. They\u2019ve been dubbed \u201cfake police\u201d and worse.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not trying to replace the police, or be them,\u201d said group chairman James Barnes. \u201cJust be an additional tool for the police. A lot of people have issues with the police, which is why they come to us. Keyboard warriors and trolls can be quick to abuse us but it\u2019s fair to say we\u2019re getting lots of positive feedback as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Group volunteers chat to the public on Rhyl High Street(Image: The Shield)<\/p>\n The Shield is also getting plenty of requests for help from people disillusioned with official channels \u2013 more than 100 this year already. Some fall outside their remit, which focuses solely on safeguarding issues. Nor can the group get involved if police investigations are active or the matter has gone to court.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been targeted quite a lot on social media,\u201d said chief operating officer Matt Davies, from Swansea. \u201cBut that\u2019s only because people don\u2019t understand the group\u2019s background and what we\u2019re trying to achieve. We\u2019re not trying to entrap people. Police forces have been quite impressed by our level of organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n Welcomed with open arms<\/p>\n Of the UK\u2019s 12 regions and nations, The Shield claims to now have a presence in 10, a meteoric expansion for a \u201ctaskforce\u201d not yet a year old. It vows to be a \u201cvoice for all communities…. from all walks of life and across all cultures\u201d.<\/p>\n Members pledge to \u201cbe there when it matters\u201d when they believe official systems are failing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an approach that chimes with the disillusioned and disenfranchised. Online, a woman said: \u201cPersonally I don\u2019t feel safe in Rhyl<\/a> after being attacked and harassed for about 6 months outside my home. Of course the police caught neither of them but I expected no less.<\/p>\n “Don\u2019t go out for a walk anymore and certainly wouldn\u2019t go out at night. Brilliant, well done lads.\u201d<\/p>\n North Wales Police says it relies on information from the public to decide where \u2018hotspot\u2019 patrols are needed(Image: David Powell\/North Wales Live)<\/p>\n Women appear particularly enthusiastic about the concept. \u201cThank you for being in our town, it is amazing to see,\u201d said a Rhyl mum. \u201cIf I was in danger I would much rather call you for help than the police.<\/p>\n \u201cAs sad as it is to see we need you around because the way the country has gone, it\u2019s amazing that you\u2019re all willing to do this. Keep up the good work.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Neighbourhood Watch on steroids’<\/p>\n The Shield\u2019s on-the-ground operations are overseen by Neil Simpson, who says he has a military and police background. As \u201cHead of Vanguard\u201d, he spearheads street activities that are often more prosaic than they sound: receiving information from the public and collating reports for the police. It\u2019s like a Neighbourhood Watch on steroids.<\/p>\n The Shield has no influence when it comes to the police acting on the information it receives. North Wales Police said it will act on any information received \u2013 but it would prefer members of the public to report details directly to the force.<\/p>\n A spokesperson said: \u201cThe force will use such information to develop an intelligence picture that can be meaningfully implemented by local policing teams.<\/p>\n \u201cWe encourage all members of our local community to report any concerns they may have directly to us either via our live webchat or on 101. Our officers use these reports to inform where proactive \u2018hotspot\u2019 patrols are needed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reporting of such information to any other source impedes our ability to police our community areas effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n Shield members outside Rhyl United Church which runs the ASK Centre (Advice, Support, and Kindness) community hub(Image: The Shield)<\/p>\n If a situation merits it, the group says it will carry out \u201cobservation\u201d work at complained-about properties and venues. A current case cited by the group is a young man allegedly stealing from his vulnerable grandfather to fund his drug habit.<\/p>\n Targeted street patrols are a \u201cplan B\u201d option \u2013 but Neil stressed: \u201cWe are strictly non-confrontational, we do not in any way get hands-on.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to recruits, The Shield says it is non-political and all are welcome irrespective of gender, race or creed. Its own pictures suggest the majority are middle-aged white males with a smattering of women.<\/p>\n An ongoing recruitment drive is attracting attention. In recent days there have been calls for a Shield presence in places like Denbigh<\/a> and Mold<\/a>. Thanking the group, a St Asaph<\/a> woman said the group\u2019s work was \u201camazing\u201d.<\/p>\n Online, another said: \u201cLove this. We need this in Flint<\/a>, especially at the weekends.\u201d A third woman agreed: \u201cCould use this in Prestatyn<\/a>, I had to step in the other week to stop some \u2018man\u2019 beating on his girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n Alarm bells<\/p>\n While some demographics have embraced The Shield, alarm bells have been ringing among left-leaning groups and watchdogs. Among them is North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (NSCARF), which fears The Shield is a vigilante organisation masquerading as a community safety initiative.<\/p>\n In an online post, NSCARF said: \u201cSocial media posts and reports show The Shield operates with paramilitary style, including uniformed patrols, regimented command structures, training in surveillance, intelligence gathering and self-defence.<\/p>\n It aims to create a network of vigilantism, echoing the legacies of fascism, where mobs of thugs would dominate neighbourhoods through intimidation and violence.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Shield is doing this by presenting itself as a force for good whilst exploiting fears around exploitation and public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n Group members have canine company as they head along Queen Street in Rhyl(Image: The Shield)<\/p>\n This is a narrative disputed by The Shield, which stresses all its volunteers are vetted, trained and insured. As they have no more powers than any other member of the public, the group said members will always defer to the authorities, observing and recording street incidents until police arrive.<\/p>\n Matt added: \u201cWe would hope our presence would act as a deterrent to prevent these incidents. We are also all trained in first aid and would help out with first aid until we could get an ambulance to the casualty.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just trying to help people. Hopefully perceptions will change as communities realise the good work we are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Others find the whole concept dispiriting, especially in places like Llandudno that prides itself as the \u201cQueen of Welsh Resorts\u201d. \u201cIn a big city or rough area I get it,\u201d said one man. \u201cBut not sure Llandudno has fallen that far yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Agreeing, another said: \u201cUnbelievable that we need a group like this \u2013 says it all about the state of our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_AFRDPW240226TheShield_05.jpg\"\/)
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