Roads policing review

Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert has welcomed Gwent Police’s commitment to implementing the findings of a review of roads policing in Gwent.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent undertook a review of Gwent Police’s current roads policing provision in 2019-20.

As well as recognising the good work carried out by Gwent Police it made several recommendations for consideration, including that the force invest more resources into roads policing across the region.

Jeff Cuthbert, who is a road safety lead for the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “Gwent Police has had significant cuts in government funding since 2010 and has had to make almost £50million in savings. This has inevitably meant that prioritising resources in some areas has been a challenge.

“However the significant investment we have made in about 170 new Police Officer posts since 2016, and the recent investment in additional officers by the UK Government through Operation Uplift, has allowed Gwent Police to review its operating model.

“I am pleased that this is going to include a new Roads Policing and Specialist Operations Unit that will incorporate the recommendations made by my office.”

Recommendations in the report include a commitment to invest in more specialist data collection and research to better understand the root causes of traffic collisions in Gwent, to fill vacant posts in the force’s Area Support Unit, and to implement new performance measures to provide more insight into police performance.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Roberts said: “We are working to tackle the two elements of roads policing that have a significant impact on our communities. We are increasing the level of focus and investment to make our roads safer and to reduce casualties. With some key road networks linking England and Wales within Gwent, investing in policing support for operations to tackle serious and organised crime and to counter the threat from terrorism and extremism is also key. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to develop a successful plan for roads policing in Gwent.”