Commissioner invests in safer communities

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd invested more than £50,000 into community safety initiatives this summer.

The Commissioner funded projects in each of Gwent’s five counties, aimed at enhancing the work of local authorities to address crime and antisocial behaviour hotspots in their areas.

The additional funding supported partnership work between councils and the police to increase patrols and local action as part of the UK Government’s Safer Summer Streets Initiative. It included:

• Funding for targeted youth outreach work in areas of Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly.
• Youth outreach and engagement with businesses in Monmouthshire.
• Youth engagement and increased community safety warden patrols in Newport.
• Extended hours and activities at Cwmbran Centre for Young People in Torfaen.

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd said: “Residents should feel safe in their communities. While policing has a part to play, we need to address the root causes of these issues, and that is everyone’s responsibility.

“By investing to support local authorities and other partners to carry out engagement and diversionary work in problem areas, we are freeing up police capacity to spend time where it is most needed.

“When the police, local authorities, and other partners work more closely together to focus on hotspot areas in this way, we are sending a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated in our communities.”