BLOG – A message from Torfaen Inspector, David Morgan – 10th February 2016

Hello all and welcome to my latest Blog. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work continues to tackle anti-social behaviour in the Greenmeadow Ward and I am pleased to report that progress is being made with the main perpetrators. I chaired a meeting with affected victims on 18th January. It was well attended and I was pleased that the elected councillors were there to support the victims too. It was important to show the victims that they have not been suffering alone and that a lot of work has, and continues to be, undertaken to deal with the issue. The meeting was hosted by Bron Afon Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and we continue to work closely with each other to target perpetrators who are residents in their properties. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

I am hopeful that a strong community group will form from this meeting because if the community demonstrates togetherness and has a willingness to speak up collectively when anti-social behaviour is witnessed, then the information that is gathered can be used positively by both Gwent Police and the RSL. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, there are some people, who have been offered help and opportunities to divert themselves away from anti-social behaviour, who continue to cause problems for others. This week, Gwent Police applied for an injunction against a 15 year old youth who has systematically refused to end their behaviour. They have now faced the consequences and were given an injunction to restrict their offending behaviour. One of the conditions they have to comply with is that they are not allowed to associate in a public place with seven named people. They must also remain indoors between the hours of 8pm and 7am every day, except when supervised by one of three named adults. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

I understand that this is the first injunction to be enforced in the Torfaen area, and whilst it is truly sad that we have had to go to such measures, we sincerely hope that it will bring respite to those affected by the behaviour of this young person. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On a separate matter, Speedwatch has been introduced in the Torfaen area. Several volunteers have come forward and we will have two separate groups operating in the Torfaen area; one covering Llanfrechfa and Ponthir and the other covering Pontnewydd. A group will also start soon in Pontypool when training has been completed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This project empowers local residents to have an impact on an issue they have identified as a priority. Some might argue that the police service should do more to tackle the issue of speeding, and in an ideal world this would certainly be the case, but because reports of speeding are so widespread, having community volunteers working closely with the police service has proven to be a positive step in other places. Thank you to those who have come forward to participate, I hope your efforts pay off and we soon start to see a reduction in speeding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Finally, it’s only a small amount, but one of the shifts in Torfaen had some money left over from its tea fund at the end of December and due to the impact the fire at Coed Eva Primary School has had on the local community, decided to donate the £50 to the fund that has been created. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Thank you for taking the time to read this instalment, until next time, please follow the teams on Twitter @gpcwmbran and @gppontypool for more local policing updates. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

David Morgan
Inspector
Torfaen
01633 838111 Ext 743 2521
david.g.morgan@gwent.pnn.police.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​