Ahead of Wales’ first Six Nations home game against Scotland this weekend, Cardiff Council in partnership with South Wales Police, the British Transport Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service is continuing its drive to keep Cardiff a safe and enjoyable venue for the many fans who will visit the City Centre.
The Six Nations Campaign will build on the success of December’s Operation Mistletoe, ensuring the city’s streets remain free from litter and debris and encouraging responsible drinking by highlighting some of the associated risks of excessive alcohol consumption.
To supplement the usual initiatives agencies run as part of ‘Cardiff After Dark’; various additional measures are being implemented on match days to help improve everyone’s enjoyment of Cardiff’s city centre and project a positive image of the Capital. These include:
* Sensible drinking messages;
* Extra Policing and a targeting of individuals involved in anti-social behaviour;
* Additional litter bins and street cleansing;
* Extended opening hours for the Hayes toilets, and;
* Officers from British Transport Police providing a ‘meet and greet’ service around the Cardiff Central train station area to help increase public reassurance and provide advice and information to commuters.
Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Judith Woodman, is keen to stress that the campaign is as much about education and reassurance as it about enforcement. “We started this clean up drive in December with our hugely successful Operation Mistletoe campaign and our commitment to improving the image of Cardiff’s city centre has not waned.
“The temporary toilets which we provided around the city in December proved popular and greatly reduced the problem of people urinating in the street. That success has led us to provide something similar for the Six Nations.
“Admittedly, the dynamics of the Six Nations tournament is slightly different to the Christmas festivities but fundamentally what we are trying to address here is the issue of heavy drinking and its associated consequences.
“We recognise that this is a national problem – not just isolated to Cardiff – and that we can’t resolve the matter over night. However, we are taking proactive steps in Cardiff by saying come to Cardiff and enjoy yourself but behave and respect our city. And this is why our continued clean up drive is so important.”
Inspector Gary Ash, who is in charge of British Transport Police’s Welsh Neighbourhood Policing Teams, said: “Our Neighbourhood Teams will be on hand to give a warm welcome to everyone coming into Cardiff for the Six Nations and will be happy to provide advice and guidance on sensible drinking. This will ensure an enjoyable day out for all supporters – as well as a safe one.”
Divisional Commander for Eastern BCU, Chief Superintendent Alun Thomas said: “Cardiff City centre experienced a 40 per cent reduction in violent crime over the Christmas period as a result of Operation Mistletoe.
“Throughout the whole of December there were just nine incidents of most serious violence during a period when most pubs and clubs were at capacity, amounting to around 100,000 people on the main party nights.
“We are looking to build on this success over the Six Nations Tournament.
“Cardiff is safe city and we welcome people who are here to enjoy the vibrant social life it has to offer but a firm approach will be taken with those who chose to get involved in alcohol-related crime and disorder.”
