BLOG – A message from Caerphilly South Inspector, Gareth Jones

Hello all, welcome back to my monthly update for Caerphilly South. For newcomers, Caerphilly South incorporates the Bedwas and Caerphilly areas and covers a total of seven neighbourhood wards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The beginning of the year is traditionally a quieter time on the policing front. In terms of reported crime, the first three weeks of the year were well below our average and the number of calls reporting anti-social behaviour halved. Whilst the weather plays its part, I want to assure you that my officers continue to serve you in a professional, supportive and caring way and we’re working to improve consistency in the ways we keep you updated. A 13% increase in victim satisfaction for crime and ASB combined (over a 12 month period October 2014-2015) shows we are making progress in this area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Turning to some specific issues around crime, I want to remind you all that we are still experiencing a number of shed and garage breaks in the area. We have made several arrests in connection with these, but please check the security of your sheds and garages, particularly if they back onto unlit lanes. Please make every effort to keep them secure and don’t leave valuables such as fishing equipment or high value bikes on show. If you need further crime prevention/security advice please contact us. You may also like to consider joining the Online Watch Link (OWL). This messaging service will keep you informed about what is happening in your area. We frequently post updates on OWL to notify you of crimes or appeals for information. To register, simply go to www.owl.co.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We continue to develop intelligence provided by the community in relation to cannabis production . We have again been executing warrants, most recently in the Penyrheol and Aber Valley wards areas. Keep the information coming in…things to look out for include; condensation on the windows, curtains always closed, funny smell, coming and goings at night, newly acquired gardening interests…if you have suspicions let us know! Please call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood can have a real impact on your day to day life, don’t think you have to put up with it, report it to us and with the assistance of our partner agencies we can take any necessary action. We have had some notable successes recently; in the Penyrheol ward two youths have been issued with anti-social behaviour Injunctions and two more have received Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs). Please note we are also now able to capture evidence on body worn cameras. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PC 1100 Simon James is our ‘Forgotten Landscapes’ Officer who responds to complaints about off road biking. Last weekend Simon enlisted the help of local officers and ran an operation around the Machen Mountain area. As a consequence no less that 39 motorbikes, numerous quads and 4×4 vehicles were turned away from the area and riders/drivers were educated regarding off-roading laws. A warning was also issued to one owner regarding the anti-social use of his vehicle, if he receives another his vehicle could be seized. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Neighbourhood Team has been busy this last month running Your Voice meetings across all wards. These meetings give you the opportunity to let us know what your concerns are so we can prioritise addressing what matters most to you. Some communities have gone one step further and I am really pleased to see that the community of Rudry, Draethen and Waterloo has set up their own Community Speedwatch. We are keen to see how they get on. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You can read more about it : ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

https://www.gwent.police.uk/news/article/article/volunteers-help-bring-community-speedwatch-to-caerphilly/ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For more information on the scheme contact Emily.godsell@gwent.pnn.police.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Also on the traffic theme, officers contributed significantly to the All Wales Anti Drink/Drug Driving campaign. Sixty-eight arrests were made across Gwent for drink or drug driving offences during the month-long campaign. You can read more about this here: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

https://www.gwent.police.uk/news/article/article/all-wales-winter-anti-drinkdrug-driving-campaign-results/ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Finally just a reminder, we no longer operate out of the premises on Market Street, Caerphilly, however, we are running three surgeries each week from Caerphilly Library every Monday 11am-1pm, Thursday 2- 4pm and Saturday 11am – 1pm. Come along to discuss any issues affecting you. Our Enquiry Office at Bedwas Police Station, Church Street, Bedwas is now open 9am to 5pm every weekday, except Bank Holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thank you for reading, I hope you have found it informative and I look forward to updating you next time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Regards
Gareth Jones
Inspector
Caerphilly South Neighbourhood Area
Bedwas Police Station/Gorsaf Heddlu Bedwas
Church Street
Bedwas
CF83 8EB ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ebost/Email- gareth.w.jones@gwent.pnn.police.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​