A partnership approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and grass fires in the Afan Valley over the Easter holidays has proved a big hit.
Police, Fire Service, Youth Service and NPT Homes worked together in putting on diversionary activities for youngsters over the two-week period in order to keep them off the streets and out of trouble.
The young people of the Afan Valley participated in a young firefighters course where they learnt basic hose running, ladder climbing, home safety and the dangers and consequences of deliberate grass fires.
During the afternoons the youngsters took part in fun activities and on the second week they went mountain biking in Afan Argoed and on the last day a visit to Police headquarters where they visited the mounted section, dogs, specialist search unit and roads policing.
PC Mark Davies of the anti-social behaviour unit at Neath Police Station said: “As a result of these activities the fire service saw a reduction of deliberate fire settings down 75% from the previous year in the Afan Valley.
“Last Easter saw 21 fires, one of which covered five hectares and caused considerable damage compared to this year which saw the fire service deal with 5 five deliberate fires which were described as relatively small.”
