Gwent PCC Condemns Disorder in Latest Blog

"I would like to start by condemning the unacceptable scenes we experienced on the streets of Pill in Newport during a night of disturbance and disorder last week.

This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and the only relief is that no one was injured. I would like to thank Gwent Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the other services which supported us for their swift and professional response.

A group of strategic leaders, including representation from my office, met on Monday to look at the cause and effect of this incident. The Public Service Board will now work with our community safety partners and take coordinated action to identify, develop and implement appropriate interventions.

I have said from the outset that I want to be a visible and an inclusive Police and Crime Commissioner and I am determined to ensure that people understand the real value of this post. My team and I have attended over 220 engagement events since I came into office and I have visited all of our key partners and the town and community councils and local business leaders in the area. Many issues have been raised with me and it is all about us now building trust for the future and sharing information to find solutions to some of the challenges we face.

I intend to maintain that level of engagement and, from next month, I will be rolling out a range of monthly public surgeries which will provide residents with a golden opportunity to come and talk to me about any police and crime issues they may have.

Confronted with shrinking budgets in an evolving crime environment, we have to decide where to prioritise our resources. I hope that cuts to the policing service are not continued by the current Chancellor and I await his Autumn statement with great interest. With this in mind, it's my responsibility to ensure that all the people who live in Gwent have an efficient and effective police service and I have a legal duty to set the police and crime priorities for the Force. The three month long consultation on my proposed priorities concluded this week and my office will now be collating and analysing your responses. These priorities will form the backbone of my police and crime plan which will provide the direction for crime and policing services in the region over the next four years. The plan, which will be finalised in the Spring of 2017, will take into account how we maintain and protect frontline policing in Gwent within financial constraints.

To finish on a positive, I am looking forward next week to announcing the range of successful groups and organisations throughout Gwent who will share in a total of nearly £250,000 in cash seized from criminals and from the sale of unclaimed found property. You will hear more on this in due course."