Anti-social behaviour across Bedwas and Caerphilly is down by 39.3% and 40.1% respectively, over 1100 incidents fewer than this time last year.
After the launch of a joint summer campaign with South Wales Police which reassured those living and working in our Force areas that we have real solutions to real problems, Bedwas and Caerphilly Neighbourhood Teams have worked tirelessly throughout the summer months to tackle the problems head on.
In Caerphilly, Park Safe ran to ensure the town’s parks are safe and enjoyable places for local families to visit.
Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Community Safety Wardens regularly patrolled the local parks throughout the summer, including Morgan Jones Park and Virginia Park to deal with any incidents they came across.
They dealt with incidents such as breaches of Designated Public Protection Orders (no drinking orders), underage drinking and other forms of anti-social behaviour.
In total, 51 stops were made, 18 ASBO referrals were submitted, 13 intelligence logs submitted, 1 arrest made and 49 cans and bottles of alcohol disposed of.
In Bedwas and Caerphilly there are now 40 fewer off-road bikes being used thanks to the return of Back on Track. Over the summer, officers from the Bedwas and Caerphilly Neighbourhood Policing Team have been tackling the use of off-road bikes in their areas. Off-road operations were carried out to tackle off-roaders, coupled with the launch of Back on Track.
Funded by the Caerphilly County Borough Children and Young Peoples Partnership, officers worked with Halfords to provide local people with an opportunity to trade in their off-road bike in return for a mountain bike and accessories.
Everyone who surrendered their off-road vehicle received a mountain bike, helmet, cable and lock, bicycle lights, puncture repair kit, riding mitts, high visibility arm and leg bands, as well as a three year bike care plan – all for free.
Other work has included: The Friday Night Project in Bedwas and a popular Caerphilly youth club have contributed to reduction in anti-social behaviour.
Caerphilly Neighbourhood Policing Team Sergeant, Andy Down explains: “We are committed to improving the quality of life for residents and Bedwas and Caerphilly Neighbourhood Policing Teams have had a strong focus on prevention and working with members of public who are not prepared to tolerate these types of incidents. The figures illustrate we are making real progress but there is always more that can be done. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage remains a concern for people living in Gwent and we will continue to work hard to help tackle this.”
Cllr Rob Gough, Cabinet Member for Public Protection said: “This is very pleasing news and definitely a positive step in the right direction. Our team of Community Safety Wardens work tirelessly alongside our partners at Gwent Police and other organisations to help make Caerphilly county borough an even safer and more pleasant place to live.”
He continued: “I would also like to emphasise the commitment of the many other teams, community groups and members of the public – without their involvement, the task of reducing levels of anti-social behaviour in our county borough would be all the more difficult.”
“From youth workers and community volunteers who provide diversionary activities for young people to take part in, through to our Trading Standards team who work hard to ensure that alcohol doesn’t get into the hands of our youngsters, all have, and will continue to play a key role in this substantial reduction in anti-social behaviour levels”, he added.
The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, of which Gwent Police and Caerphilly County Borough Council are members, also operates a ‘four strikes’ early intervention programme for dealing with anti-social behaviour in Caerphilly county borough.
This programme is a mechanism for identifying individuals whose persistent anti-social behaviour causes problems within our communities and for considering appropriate action to seek to modify such behaviour.
To report incidents of anti-social behaviour, please call Gwent Police on 101. In an emergency, please dial 999.
For more information, please visit www.gwent.police.uk/asb
