Pontypool Neighbourhood Policing Team coordinated a multi-agency week of action in North Torfaen to cut crime and clean up the area.
Resources from across the Gwent Police force area – including Roads Policing officers, Support Group officers and the Safety Camera Unit – were deployed in North Torfaen for four days at the end of October.
While neighbourhood officers patrolled the area on foot, the Gwent Police ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Unit covered main routes in the area.
The police vehicles used were fitted with ANPR technology, which scans number plates and checks them against police records.
Any vehicles connected with a range of offences – from no insurance to firearms incidents – were stopped while officers investigated and searched vehicles where necessary.
The Gwent Police results from the week of action are as follows:
- Four search warrants were executed under the Misuse of Drugs Act
- Six people were arrested for a range of offences
- Four vehicles were seized because their drivers had no licence or insurance
- Eight fixed penalty notices were issued to drivers for offences such as Driving Whilst Using a Mobile Phone
- 25 speeding fines were issued by the Safety Camera Enforcement Unit
- 55 fixed penalties were issued for minor traffic offences, such as Obstruction of the Highway
- Nine off licences were subjected to test purchasing with Trading Standards
- 14 pubs were checked in conjunction with Torfaen Licensing Department
- 11 vehicles were identified as having no tax and were dealt with by colleagues from the DVLA by various methods, including wheel clamping
- Four children were caught truanting during a truancy sweep with Educational Welfare Officers
- 14 pubs were visited
In addition to the police enforcement, a range of services offered by partner agencies were taken to North Torfaen.
Drop in Centres were held at Abersychan and Blaenavon, allowing local people to access services provided by Social Landlords, Trading Standards, Crime Prevention and other agencies.
Litter picks were conducted by Communities First and local schools in Blaenavon and the Youth Offending Team and Community Payback teams continued their work of cleaning of the streets of Abersychan.
With the help of Detatched Youth Workers, a number of drunken youths were returned home to their parents.
Gwent Police and partner agencies based themselves in Brynteg Community Hall, Abersychan and Blaenavon Library throughout the week of action.
Inspector Nick McLain, of Pontypool Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Initiatives like this show that we are listening to the North Torfaen community and responding by disrupting criminals and making life better for residents.
“We will not tolerate antisocial behaviour or criminal activity and we have worked closely with our communities to achieve these results.
“Our ward policing teams in North Torfaen decided to call on the help of other Gwent Police departments to increase the level of enforcement during the week and our partner agencies took the services they offer to the people of the area.
“I want to reassure residents that we will continue to conduct such operations in North Torfaen and listen to their views on what action we need to take.”
Please visit www.gwent.police.uk and enter your postcode to find out what Gwent Police is doing in your area, and how you can help to set local policing priorities.
