Gwent Police launch new team to tackle anti-social behaviour
Gwent Police's Community Action Team began patrols from Cwmbran police station on Monday, June 9, targeting hotspot areas across Blaenau Gwent, Newport, Torfaen, and Caerphilly with a focus on visible policing and community safety.
Inspector Laura Paget said: "Neighbourhood policing is all about being proactive, solving local problems, and making sure we're at the very heart of, and engaging with, the communities we serve.
"Whether it's investigating the use of off-road vehicles in Alway or tackling ASB in Cwmbran, over the next four months officers will be working in the areas we've identified as being affected most by ASB and acquisitive vehicle crime."
The team includes 10 PCSOs, 16 PCs, two sergeants, and is led by Inspector Paget.
Since launching, the team has made more than 20 arrests for offences including drug supply, road offences, possession of weapons, and violent crime.
They have also seized 21 vehicles connected to anti-social off-road driving or traffic offences.
Inspector Paget said: "The public have the right to feel safe in their neighbourhoods, and we've all got a shared commitment to increasing safety, trust in our services, and building strong relationships with the public.
"The teams will also continue our work with community safety partnerships in each local authority area to build on the good work already taking place to make our neighbourhoods safer."
Funding for additional resources in the Caerphilly area is being provided by Caerphilly County Borough Council, with a focus on improving safety in town centres.
Cllr Sean Morgan, leader of the council, said: "We very much welcome the launch of this new initiative.
"It enables council services and police services to be more closely aligned and provides additional reassurance to our residents.
"CCBC is in a unique position thanks to our financial support to the new team, which demonstrates our continuing commitment to target crime and anti-social behaviour by working in close partnership with Gwent Police.
"I look forward to seeing the benefits of this collaborative approach going forward."
Blackwood will be the first town in the county borough to benefit from the new policing model.
Jane Mudd, police and crime commissioner for Gwent, said: "Chief Constable Mark Hobrough and I are united in our commitment to increase visible policing in our communities.
"This is what our residents have told us they want and that is why it forms a key part of my Police, Crime and Justice Plan.
"The Community Action Team will provide the Chief Constable with the extra resilience to put more officers on the ground in the areas that need them most, and I look forward to seeing the results of this work in the coming weeks."
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