Newport West Neighbourhood Policing Team coordinated a ‘lock-down’ of Pill on Monday (June 21st) in a drive to reduce crime in the area.
While neighbourhood officers patrolled the area on foot, the Gwent Police ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Unit covered the main route into and out of Pill.
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 ‘lock-down’ was carried out as part of Operation Prudent, a continuing Gwent Police drive to reduce crime in Pill and reassure law-abiding members of the local community.
A similar initiative was run in Pill in November 2009.
The results of the ‘lock-down’ on Monday are as follows:
- 202 Police National Computer checks completed
- Three arrests (for possession of cannabis, an assault, and a wanted person)
- Two fixed penalty fines were issued for possession of cannabis
- Two vehicles were seized for no insurance
- 22 fixed penalty notices were issued for a variety of motoring offences, which included three for no MOT
Sergeant Sarah Davies, of Newport West Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Initiatives like this ‘lock-down’ show that we are listening to the Pill community and responding by disrupting criminals and making life better for residents.
“The ANPR technology enables us to quickly and effectively find people who are believed to be connected with a range of different crimes.
“We will continue to conduct such Operation Prudent initiatives and consider the views of the public through the PACT process.”
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.
