A police boss went back in time, when he stepped in to protect a vulnerable man being abused by a couple who he told to ‘sling their hook’.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, a former police inspector who hails from Harlech, intervened when he saw the man being threatened in Lord Street in Wrexham.

The region’s Chief Constable, Carl Foulkes, tweeted: “Well done Arfon. Once a copper, always a copper.”

Mr Jones, who retired from his role as the force’s Eastern Division operational inspector in 2008, said he wasn’t prepared to stand by while a defenceless person was being bullied.

Although he is no longer a warranted officer, Mr Jones said all members of the public have common law powers to act in a situation like this.

Mr Jones said: “I was with my wife in Dragon Travel, Lord Street chatting to staff when I became aware of something of a ruckus outside.

"It was clear that a vulnerable man, who I have previously met, was being threatened and abused by a couple.

“I brought the man inside the travel agency and told the couple to sling their hook.

“They refused to go and continued shouting abuse and were trying to gain access to the travel agency.

“The police were called and I actually took photographs of the offending couple on my phone so they could be identified later.

“This was nasty anti-social behaviour and I’m afraid, retired or not, I’m not prepared to stand by and ignore bullying, discrimination or abuse in any form.

“I will always intervene if any vulnerable person is being harassed by people I can only describe as hoodlums.”

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