Operation to preserve Forgotten Landscapes Police message


A one-day police operation targeted crimes including fly- tipping, the illegal use of off-road vehicles, and vehicle and metal thefts.


Gwent Police joined forces with Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Monmouthshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils, as well as the Forestry Commission, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the Treadlightly Trust, to enforce laws that protect the Blaenavon World Heritage Site and its surroundings.


The operation covered a


large area of countryside from Brynmawr down to Abertillery and Cwmtillery over into Monmouthshire around Clydach and right down to the Blaenavon and Pontypool areas of Torfaen.


Landscapes crime officer PC


Officers want to make it clear to criminals that they will be caught. During one week in June, out of the eight shoplifting offences recorded, all eight offenders were caught and all stolen goods recovered.


Gwent Police and the


Rob Maddocks organised the operation following concerns raised by residents and walkers about the illegal use of off-road vehicles, fly-tipping and grass fires.


He explained: “My role is to


raise awareness of landscape crime, as well as tackling offenders. Many members of the public don’t fully


Any Torfaen youngsters found drinking alcohol underage will now face a youth panel to decide their fate.


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The youth panels, made up of local residents, victims of anti- social behaviour, local business people and partner agencies, ha the power to decide on locally arranged good behaviour contr for youngsters. If the contracts are broken, the youngstergste s hasters ha to go before the panel again, which could result in an anti-social behaviour order.


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On June 1-2, Pontypool officers carried out operations to target youngsters involved in anti-social behaviour and under drinking. The operations ran on a Friday night in New Inn and a Saturday night in Blaenavon - two areas that have pr viouslyreviou suffered from anti-social behaviour on weekends. In total, 10 youngsters in New Inn were found in possession or under the influence of alcohol and taken to Pontypool Station for further action.


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understand the law in relation to off-road vehicles.


“We will continue to carry out


operations such as this on a regular basis to bring offenders to justice and improve the local area for residents and visitors to this beautiful part of the world.”


The operation had the following results:


• six Section 59 warnings – this means that if anyone is found riding or driving illegally again in the next 12 months, their vehicle will be seized


• 42 verbal warnings and educational leaflets given out


• 24 new fly-tipping sites were identified and referred for clean-up operations.


Youth panel to decide future of Torfaen underage drinkers In Blaenavon, three youngsters were found with alcohol and


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taken to Blaenavon Station. All 13 were called before the youth panel and were given warnings due to it being their first offence. The details of the youngsters were recorded and, if the youngsters are found again under the influence of alcohol, they will return to face the panel for further action. The youngsters were also referred to counselling sessions at a local alcohol and drug workshop.


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“We wanted the people who were directly affected by anti- viour to have a say in how the youngsters were dealt


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with. We’d like to thank the support given from the members of the panel and the local community, as well as the parents of the children who were all very supportive.”


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P SO PaulinPCSO Pauline Lohfink explained: “The main aim was to make sure the youngsters under the influence of alcohol were moved to apla place of afety a place of safety away from any vulnerable situations. The panels are the first pilot of this scheme in Gwent, which was set up with the aim of helping community interaction.


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Cwmbran Business Crime Partnership are working together to combat crime in the town centre.


The team is using CCTV and storenet radio, which allow stores and the police to communicate with each other and catch criminals within a matter of minutes.


Officers patrol the town


centre daily and have a helping hand from a 7ft photo reproduction of 27-year-old PC Rhydian Jones (himself 6’4) who is an officer in Newport. The eye-catching Rhydian reproductions are in several larger shops and stores to remind shoplifters, opportunist thieves and pickpockets that police and security staff are patrolling.


Anyone caught committing crime is considered by the Cwmbran Business Against Crime Partnership for a ban from all 55 shops and pubs on the town centre.


Currently there are nine people already banned from the town.


Adult learning course gives Rob the working skills for dream police job Participants gain qualifications in


A project that has been delivering community and workplace learning in south east Wales since 2009 held a celebration evening recently. Working Skills for Adults, financed


by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government, has helped 2,700 people gain new qualifications to improve their job opportunities and earning potential.


The project is a partnership between Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Torfaen councils and Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Ystrad Mynach colleges.


Page 10 Torfaen PCSO Rob Jarrett.


subjects ranging from literacy and numeracy, ICT, sector specific skills and NVQs.


Many started with no qualifications or had not engaged with education for many years.


More than 300 have been motivated to go on to further learning outside of the project.


Over 250 companies have been supported by the project, many of which would not have been able to support their employees’ learning without the project.


Among the successful participants is


Rob was looking for support to improve his written English after recognising his skills weren’t as good as he would like when taking statements, filling in forms and writing reports.


Rob enrolled on the GCSE English course at the Settlement, Pontypool and passed his exam in August. He also received a Torfaen Adult Learning Partnership Commended Learner award.


.


Rob said: “The impact on my job has been huge.


“It wasn’t always easy, but I


thoroughly enjoyed the course and was given support and encouragement from


To report anti-social behaviour, telephone 101


my fellow students, the staff at the Settlement


Settlement and my tutor.”


tutor.”


to criminals The message from Gwent Police in Cwmbran is clear: shoppers are welcome to the town but shoplifters are not!


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