Flintshire police warn urban explorers face arrest, Wales 2026

Key Points

• Flintshire North Division of North Wales Police has issued an advisory to the effect that anyone involved in “urban exploring” in Flintshire faces arrest.
• Police claim that there has been an increasing number of people visiting private premises uninvited to capture footage for their social media posts.
• The activities have led to property being damaged as well as stolen objects from sites which were explored.
• The police say that they would carry out investigations to ascertain whether any criminal offense has taken place and recording devices may be confiscated.
• The police took issue with internet advice to the effect that this is merely “civil trespassing” and arrests can be made when there are suspicions of crime being committed.
• This advisory was released along with a 24-hour incident report, which recorded 52 calls to services, seven arrests, and 11 crimes in the locality.

Wales (Wales Times) September 13, 2026 – North uk/police/">Wales Police’s Flintshire North team has issued a warning that people engaging in “urban exploring” across the county could face arrest following a rise in reports of trespass, damage and theft at private sites. The force said officers have seen an increase in individuals entering places without permission in order to film content for social media, and stressed that such activity will be investigated where there are concerns that criminal offences may have been committed.

As reported by Leader Live, the Flintshire North team stated: “There has been a rise in what people like to call ‘urban exploring’ where persons enter private places they have no permission to be in to film content for social media.” The force added: “There have been instances of damage caused and items stolen from these places.”

Why are Flintshire police treating urban exploring as more than civil trespass?

Officers addressed what they described as poor advice being shared online, including suggestions that people can simply tell police they are committing a civil trespass if challenged. The Flintshire North team warned that anyone suspected of offences could be arrested, and that phones, cameras or other recording equipment may also be seized if they are believed to contain evidence.

The force said: “We will investigate whether damage has been caused, or anything stolen.” It also challenged the notion that such behaviour is harmless, adding: “Now before you come at me with ‘they’re just messing about’ – please consider how you would feel if that was your home or your property and someone just walked into it and did whatever they pleased under the guise of getting clicks on social media.”

What offences and enforcement actions are possible for urban explorers in Flintshire?

While the statement did not list specific charges, the language used by the Flintshire North team indicates that potential offences could include criminal damage, theft, burglary or other property-related crimes, depending on the circumstances at each location. The warning that recording devices may be seized underscores the force’s intention to treat footage and images as potential evidence where criminal conduct is suspected.

The police update also noted that, over the previous 24 hours, seven arrests were made across the Flintshire North area on a range of matters, including two on suspicion of burglary other than a dwelling, three in connection with domestic-related assaults, one for criminal damage and another on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Eleven incidents were recorded as crimes at the time of the update, alongside 28 incidents passed to officers for further recording.

How many incidents were recorded in Flintshire during the police update period?

The warning about urban exploring came as Flintshire North officers gave an update on incidents dealt with across the area during the previous 24 hours. Police said they had received 52 calls for service, nine of which were priority zero incidents requiring an emergency response.

Among those calls were five domestic crime incidents, one report of anti-social behaviour and six concern-for-safety incidents. The force also said there had been no hate-related incidents among the force priorities highlighted, while suspects were in custody in connection with one burglary.

What is urban exploring and why has it grown in Flintshire?

Urban exploring, often shortened to “urbex”, typically involves visiting abandoned, disused or restricted buildings and infrastructure, sometimes to photograph or film the sites. In recent years, the trend has been amplified by social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, where videos of explorers inside derelict malls, hospitals, churches and industrial sites can attract large audiences.

Similar patterns have been reported elsewhere in the UK and beyond, with police in other areas noting that off-roaders and urban explorers who post videos online have faced convictions and arrests after trespassing or causing damage. In the United States, for example, YouTubers have been charged under laws targeting the posting of videos showing criminal acts committed for notoriety or publicity. In Cleveland, Ohio, an intentional fire at a former church was linked to a group that had entered the building as part of the urbex trend.

In Flintshire, the police statement makes clear that the local concern centres on people entering private places without permission specifically to create social media content, and on the associated reports of damage and theft.

What advice have Flintshire police given to residents and property owners?

The Flintshire North team’s message was aimed both at would-be explorers and at members of the public who might encounter such activity. By emphasising that officers will investigate damage and theft, and that equipment may be seized, the force signalled that it expects residents and businesses to report suspicious behaviour at private sites.

The force’s rhetorical question asking people to consider how they would feel if it were their home or property was framed as a direct response to online commentary minimising the behaviour as harmless. The statement did not provide a dedicated reporting line beyond standard police contact routes, but the broader context of the 24-hour incident update suggests such cases would be handled through normal crime and anti-social behaviour reporting channels.

Background to the rise in urban exploring incidents in Flintshire

The Flintshire North team’s warning reflects a wider pattern in which social media-driven exploration of abandoned or restricted sites has increased pressure on property owners and local policing resources. While some urban explorers focus on photography and historical interest, the growth of short-form video platforms has encouraged more performative visits, with creators seeking dramatic footage to gain views and followers.

In Flintshire, the police statement links the rise in incidents directly to people entering private places without permission to film for social media, and cites specific problems of damage and theft. This mirrors concerns raised in other jurisdictions, where trespassing explorers have been associated with vandalism, fires and theft from derelict buildings. At the same time, crime statistics for Flintshire show a recorded crime rate of 76.7 per 1,000 residents in the year to June 2026, with thousands of stop-and-searches and arrests carried out by North Wales Police across the force area. The urban exploring warning sits alongside other recent local alerts, including cautions about illegal e-bikes and online safety campaigns.

Prediction: how could this development affect urban explorers and Flintshire residents?

If North Wales Police maintain a firm stance on investigating damage, theft and unauthorised entry linked to urban exploring, individuals who previously treated such activity as a low-risk hobby may face a higher likelihood of arrest, criminal records and equipment seizure. Content creators who rely on access to abandoned or private sites could find it more difficult to film in Flintshire without explicit permission, potentially shifting activity to areas with less visible enforcement or prompting more careful risk assessment before visiting locations.

For Flintshire residents and businesses, a clearer police position may deter some trespassers and reduce incidents of damage and theft at vulnerable sites, particularly where owners are willing to report suspicious behaviour. However, if high-profile arrests or seizures occur, the issue could also attract greater online attention, temporarily increasing curiosity-driven visits before the deterrent effect takes hold. Over time, the balance between enforcement, property security measures and public awareness campaigns is likely to shape whether urban exploring in the county becomes a more regulated, permission-based activity or remains a source of recurring police calls and local concern.