BLOG – A message from Blaenau Gwent Inspector, Phillip Morris

Hello all, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It seems a long time ago now, but I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year. I was working Christmas day night and in the early hours of Boxing Day took a call from a Cwm resident reporting that individuals had damaged his property, entered his home and assaulted him. Within two hours one offender was arrested and the other was arrested a couple of weeks later. They have both been charged with aggravated burglary and are due to appear at Crown Court soon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The town centres on New Year’s Eve were fairly quiet, however, just after 1am, the calls increased. The majority of incidents were drink related arguments and a number of these were between family members. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There have been a number of incidents to mention in Abertillery area over the last few weeks… ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following information received from a concerned member of the public, a warrant was executed on Gladstone Street, on 29th December. Approximately 200 cannabis plants were recovered from a house, the electricity supply had been tampered with and a 59 year old man was arrested and later charged with being concerned in the production of a controlled drug. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On 7th January, officers and the Fire Service responded to a fire at an Internet café on Tillery Street, Abertillery. A burglary was discovered, and a sofa in the café had been set alight. Fortunately no one was harmed as a result of the incident, but the risk to safety was heightened due to there being two adjoining flats. Four young men aged between 17 and 20 have been arrested for burglary and arson with intent to endanger life, they have since been released on police bail pending further enquiries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In November, a man in his twenties, from the Abertillery area, was arrested on suspicion of theft from a vehicle, he was charged and released on bail with conditions, including a curfew which restricted his movements. Last week the same man was arrested for a second time on suspicion of offences in the Swffyrd area. He has now been remanded to prison, to await a Court appearance for theft, criminal damage, attempted burglary and burglary. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Unfortunately we are currently experiencing an issue with vehicle crime across the borough. This includes theft from cars, some of these offences are due to owners leaving their cars unlocked, or leaving property on view, which results in opportunistic offenders smashing windows to gain entry. Please remember to take your possession with you when you leave your vehicle unattended and ensure it is left secure. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There have also been a number of thefts of car parts reported, including glass from wing mirrors, bumpers and someone attempted to remove the catalytic converter from one vehicle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Theft of diesel from cars, vans and lorries continue, mainly in the Tredegar area, along with a number of incidents of damage to car tyres and tyre valves being removed from cars. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Additionally, a number of cars parked on Cwmcelyn Road in Blaina had each of their tyres slashed overnight 30th – 31st January. Anyone with information relating to this is asked to call 101. This is mindless vandalism which causes a great deal of inconvenience, not to mention expense to the car owners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We are also investigating a number of burglaries and shed/garage breaks. One man was arrested for a burglary in the Brynmawr area and is currently on bail pending further enquiries. Again please be sure to keep your property/ outbuildings secure and valuable items out of view. If you would like further crime prevention advice please get in touch. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Due to the snow we experienced in January we saw an increase in anti-social behaviour calls, this was mainly due to youngsters in the area throwing snowballs at passers-by. Several were spoken to about their actions and their parents were contacted. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of my intentions, when circulating these monthly updates, is to raise awareness of the types of incidents that have occurred in the area. This is not to raise any fear but to remind residents to remain vigilant and work with us to reduce criminal activity and identify more offenders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Whilst some of offences are more serious than others, I would like to reassure everyone that we’re committed to reducing all crime. Looking at our figures we have achieved reductions in 2015 compared to the previous year, and we will continue our focus on preventing and detecting crime in Blaenau Gwent. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Until next time…you can stay up to date on policing in Blaenau Gwent by following us on Twitter: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

@gpabertillery
@gpbrynmawr
@gpebbwvale
@gptredegar ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thanks for reading, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Inspector Phillip Morris ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​