A WREXHAM environmental campaigner and peace activist arrested for taking four plastic chairs from a recycling centre has been told she will not be prosecuted.

Genni Bove, 46, called it a “criminal waste of money” when she was questioned and bailed for taking chairs from a general rubbish skip.

The CPS has now confirmed no further action will be taken but North Wales Police has declined to comment.

Ms Bove admitted taking the chairs from the Brymbo Household Recycling Centre, run by Waste Recycling Group (WRG) for Wrexham County Borough Council.

Ms Bove said she was helping the council meet recycling targets and claimed there was no victim as the chairs were about to go to a landfill site, which she claimed was against the council waste policy.

At the time Wrexham council said removing items from skips was dangerous and banned but said it did not want to press charges.

However, Ms Bove was arrested and claims her DNA and fingerprints were taken.

She was interviewed before being released on bail after being told she might have to take part in a video identity parade.

Ms Bove said: “I am pleased the CPS has had the good sense to drop the case, as too much public money has already been wasted on it.”

But she criticised the fact she had been reported in the first place and said police should not have spent time investigating.

She added: “I cannot begin to imagine how much this has already cost the public purse, but I am very relieved there will not now be a costly court case on top of the money already wasted.

“I would urge the police to use their discretion and refuse to investigate such cases. I realise they are under a lot of pressure to achieve numbers of arrests and convictions as a result of government targets, but criminalising people for environmentally friendly acts is short-sighted and ill-advised.

“It is a criminal waste of our money, does nothing to reduce crime, and damages the reputation of the police in the eyes of the public.”