Working together for a safe Six Nations
The message from the organisations that make up the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership this Six Nations is - enjoy yourself, look after yourself and your friends, and be mindful that CCTV is constantly monitoring Caerphilly county borough's town centres for any signs of disorder.
Caerphilly County Borough Council's team of CCTV operators work around the clock to monitor the county borough's towns and villages, and have direct links to officers at Gwent Police to report any incidents they encounter.
During the last Six Nations rugby weekend, CCTV operators witnessed a small number of incidents, which, thanks to their close working links with Gwent Police, were able to be swiftly and effectively resolved.
These include:
- A man wanted in connection with an earlier incident was spotted on CCTV entering a pub in Caerphilly town centre. The police were informed, they entered the pub and the man was detained
- CCTV also received radio notification of an aggressive male, refusing to leave a pub in Caerphilly town centre. The police were informed and attended, and a group of three men were removed from the premises
- CCTV operators also spotted a group of males fighting outside a pub - police were informed and attended the scene, and the men were detained
The Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner, Ian Johnston, said: "We want people to enjoy themselves during the Six Nations but they should drink responsibly and not put themselves and others at risk of serious harm. CCTV cameras are a very useful resource and add considerable value where catching offenders and protecting members of the public from incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour is concerned.
We want less victims of crime in our communities and we recognise the fantastic role that CCTV cameras play as a much needed extra pair of eyes which complements the work of Gwent Police and our other local partners. Every crime prevented is one less victim and ultimately leads to our residents feeling safer."
Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: "These examples clearly illustrate the positive impact that CCTV can and does have on our communities across the county borough. By working so closely with and have direct links to Gwent Police, our CCTV operators are able to swiftly report any incidents they witness for officers to attend to, and are often also able to report potential issues before they escalate into incidents. I am full of praise for the work they do."
Caerphilly Partnership Sergeant, PS Rob Davies, said: "The Six Nations Rugby matches are an enjoyable time of year and we want everyone to have fun during any festivities in which they are involved.
We will be robust in our dealings with those people who are aggressive and violent so I would ask everyone to act responsibly when consuming alcohol and to look after each other to ensure the full enjoyment of our national sport."
Officers from Gwent Police and Caerphilly County Borough Council's team of Community Safety Wardens will also have an increased presence in the county borough's town centres over the coming weekend, and will be working with a number of other people including bar staff, door supervisors, takeaway owners and street pastors as part of the Safer Caerphilly After Dark scheme.
Safer Caerphilly After Dark brings together a number of different organisations with the aim of helping to make sure that by offering a coordinated approach, visitors to town centres are able to have a safe and enjoyable night out.
Community Safety Wardens and Gwent Police officers in these town centres will also be making use of special body worn cameras, which allow them to record any incidents that they may encounter.
The body cameras worn by Gwent Police officers are part of a pilot initiative, funded by the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner's fund.
For further information on the work of the organisations that make up the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, please visit http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/saferccb