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Wheel clamping on private land will end in England and Wales, as a ban will be introduced in the Government’s Freedom Bill this November, and comes into force shortly after that Bill receives Royal Assent. Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone said: “The Government is committed to ending the menace of rogue private sector wheel clampers once and for all. For too long, innocent motorists have fallen victim to unscrupulous tactics by many clamping firms.

Small and medium enterprises (those companies whose headcount or turnover falls below certain limits) were found to be the most complacent in the world about security systems in a recent report. More than 10,000 companies took part in the survey, which included Europe, Latin America, the United States and Canada.

In the last 12 months, forces across England and Wales recorded an average reduction in crime of 8 per cent according to the latest figures. Campaign group the Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) acknowledged that crime had been falling in recent years but said many offences were not reported.

Colwyn Bay customers say fees at a town centre car park are driving shoppers away and could damage businesses. Town Mayor Hazel Meredith said of the charges: “It is very sad because people use the car park an awful lot,” continuing: “It is going to have a devastating effect on the town.” Cllr Meredith also said that roadside parking restrictions had affected customers.

New parking restrictions in Colwyn Bay have caused a surge of commuting invaders on quiet streets because formerly free parking areas on roads including Queens Drive have been converted to 60 minute parking zones. Traffic Engineer, Paul Evans, said the move comes as a result of an “extensive review of parking in Colwyn Bay” which was requested by business, members of the public and councillor.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas is calling on the Coalition Government to continue to back closed circuit TV cameras which have led to more than 20,000 arrests in the town. He said: "Here in Wrexham, our council – led by a coalition of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives – recognises the value of CCTV.

A Cardiff University analyst has said cutting community safety programmes and police numbers during the recession could cause long-term economic and social damage in communities across Wales. Professor Martin Innes, one of the UK’s leading policing experts, said: "It is clear there will be considerable central government pressure to cut public spending on community safety and policing services.

Leaders of a gang carrying out robberies and who targeted cash machines and convenience stores are now behind bars after a trial at Newport crown court. The criminals roamed around Avon, Gwent and South Wales, storming into the small rooms behind the cash machines wearing balaclavas or stockings over their heads.

Cardiff council will now regulate illegal parking and issue tickets and fines. The cost of parking fines will also go up – from £30 to £70 or £50 – in a bid to clampdown on illegal parking in residential areas. The changes follow a survey answered by 4,500 people, where more than half said illegal parking affected their journeys around Cardiff.

The Federation of Small Businesses in Wales warned about fraudsters stealing the identity of legitimate business and using their credit records to obtain goods. Janet Jones, FSB Welsh policy chairwoman, said: “This type of fraud is simple to commit, and potentially devastating to small businesses. It is terrifyingly easy to steal the identity of a company just by changing company documentation.”

Access Control Wales can tackle one of the quickest-growing criminal operating methods, identity fraud. One of the many cases standing trial in the summer is that of defendant Georgina Sharon Murphy, of Pen y Waun in Chirk, who denied all 10 charges against her that she took on the identity of Gail Jones, born in May 1957, who died many years ago.

The annual Loo of the Year Awards (LoYA), which is promoted by the British Toilet Association (BTA), rewards excellence in the provision of public conveniences. The awards are open to all ‘away from home’ toilets in any one of the sixty different entry categories listed, including many sections for local authorities.