BLOG: A message from Bedwas and Caerphilly Inspector, Gareth Jones (4th March)

Hello all, welcome back to my monthly update for ‘Caerphilly South’, incorporating all wards covering Bedwas, Caerphilly and Llanbradach. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Generally a quieter month for us, this year it has not been any different. Although it does take in the Six Nations rugby internationals and half term holidays we have not seen any significant spikes in any crime types or indeed in anti- social behaviour. Anti- social behaviour reports continue to be down around 40% – not to be complacent however, your local officers continue to undertake proactive work on the community’s behalf. Examples of this kind of work include locating and arresting people recalled to prison (one arrested yesterday ) for a breach of their probation conditions, checking on those people either released from prison or charged with offences and subject to curfew conditions, often these are 7pm-7am with the person usually required to remain indoors at a given bail address. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some specific successes this month include an 18 week custodial sentence for a prolific shoplifter and the arrest of two men who committed street robberies on four males in a short space of time during the early hours of Sunday 21st February in Caerphilly town. Officers dealing with this incident quickly identified the offenders using local knowledge , made early arrests and both local men detained were subsequently charged and remanded in custody. Appearing at a remand hearing on the 22nd February both men were further remanded in custody to appear at Newport Crown Court later in March. This was a nasty and thankfully rare crime for our area. Further successful drug enforcement warrants were undertaken in the Aber Valley and Penyrheol wards where arrest were made. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There are three anti-social behaviour matters I wanted to mention. Firstly, PC Simon James is our ‘Forgotten Landscapes ‘Officer who responds to complaints around off-road motorcycling related anti- social behaviour ran a second operation on Machen mountain on the 31st January 2016 assisted by local officers. On this occasion 13 motorcycles, one quad bike and two 4×4 vehicles were stopped by police. Four Section 59 notices were issued (formal warnings for anti- social use of their vehicles). I will update you again next month on a further operation that has just been completed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Secondly, a planned gathering of motor vehicles on the evening of the 29th January in the site of the B&Q in Crossways was also disrupted and only small numbers attended and were turned away and I placed a Dispersal Notice on that location for a period of 48 hours. We continue to work with the retailers regarding this emerging issue in that location and nearby car parks and we are pleased that some retailers are erecting car park barriers. This will continue to receive our attention. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thirdly, again over recent weeks we have received increasing complaints and calls regarding youths climbing buildings in the town centre and possibly ‘free running.’ I am aware that this is a growing urban sport and I am keen not to criminalise those taking part, however, there are considerable dangers in conducting this activity in the town centre and we are working with our partners in Youth Services to find suitable provision for this. It will be regarded as anti -social behaviour by police as it can cause damage, not to mention the officers time in responding to calls of this nature. I would urge all parents who may have children taking part in this activity to ensure they take responsibility for their children’s behaviour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On a lighter note , Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway saw Caerphilly on the map on the 20th February and local CSOs were deployed to oversee. Amazingly, Caerphilly was chosen and the winner was on last Saturday’s show for the best seat in the house, looked like they had a great time! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the Your Voice process, I will be at Caerphilly Library on Tuesday 8th March from 11am to 1pm.and again on Thursday 24th March from 11am to 1pm to discuss any community issues AND I will be doing my first Twitter Takeover on Wednesday 9th March 2016, tune in by following @gwentpolice @gpbedwas and @gpcaerphilly 7pm to 8pm ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Finally, just a reminder that we are now running five surgeries a week 11am to 1pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Caerphilly library. Why not drop by and have a chat about local issue to one of the staff. Until our new Caerphilly home is found, our front office enquiries service is now at Bedwas Police Station 9am to 5pm every weekday except Bank Holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With Spring nearly upon, I hope you had a Happy St David’s Day – have you seen the Dragon at the castle yet… what a great idea by CADW Wales to bring visitors to the castle! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Diolch, Thank you ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gareth Jones ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Neighbourhood Inspector ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphillly and Bedwas ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​