Police Stations Reopen in Gwent

1af Ebrill 2014

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gwent, Ian Johnston, and the Chief Constable of Gwent Police Force, Jeff Farrar, will visit Pontypool police station this afternoon, one of seven stations in Gwent which will now be open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Two other stations in Gwent will also extend their opening hours from today.

As a result of feedback from the public and following consultation with Local Authorities and the Chief Constable, Gwent PCC Ian Johnston announced his decision to reopen the stations during a meeting of the Gwent Police and Crime panel back in January 2014.

The additional stations approved for opening five days a week to the public from today are:

  • Maindee Police Station in Newport;
  • Caerphilly, Ystrad Mynach and Risca Police Stations in Caerphilly County Borough;
  • Pontypool Police Station in Torfaen;
  • And both Chepstow and Monmouth Police Station's in Monmouthshire

Two Police Stations in Blaenau Gwent will also extend their opening hours from today. Previously open for a few hours a week, Abertillery station will now be open Thursday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Brynmawr station will now be open Monday to Wednesday 9am - 5pm.

The opening of these stations has been accommodated within the PCCs existing financial plans. The provision of these front counters will be reviewed after twelve months in consultation with both the public and staff members. Public attendance at the stations will also be assessed during the course of the year.

Gwent Police Force is currently recruiting for Station Enquiry Officers (SEOs) to provide a service at these front counters. Community Support Officers (CSOs) will open these additional nine front counters from today until they have recruited SEOs into these positions.

Highlighting his reasons for approving the reopening of the stations, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Ian Johnston, said:

"The closure of Police Stations and accessibility to them has been high on the agenda for many of our communities. Acting on direct feedback I've received from members of the public I'm delighted to announce the opening of an additional seven front counter services at police stations across Gwent from today and the extended opening hours of a number of other stations.

The announcement today complements some of the priorities outlined in my Police and Crime Plan with regards to delivering the best quality of service available for the people of Gwent, reducing and preventing crime and protecting people from serious harm.

I would like to thank everyone from the Force who worked so tirelessly to help make this happen. We are providing the service but it's now up to members of the public to make effective use of these stations.

The Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Jeff Farrar, said: "We will be maintaining our existing five front counters which have remained operational over the last couple of years, meaning that the public will be able to call in at a total of fourteen police stations in Gwent."

Mr Farrar added: "We will be evaluating the success of this over the coming year to ensure we are making the best use of resources. Our wider face-to-face engagement work with the public will continue to be complemented by regular and pre-advertised police surgeries at other police stations across the force, as well as in partner and public facilities, and using our five mobile police stations."

For further information about the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner visit www.gwent.pcc.police.uk