Police surgeries in Rhymney helping build stronger communities, says local inspector

Neighbourhood inspector, Lysha Thompson, thanks the public following series of surgeries which saw members of her team, local councillors and residents come together to discuss community safety.

We’re here to listen, reassure and act on the information you provide

Over the last couple of months, my team and I have hosted a number of police surgeries at Rhymney police station, inviting residents to meet their neighbourhood policing team and talk about any issues they’ve experienced in the area recently.

It was great to see so many getting involved, and the sessions provided us with a great opportunity to talk through some of the work we’ve been doing lately to address things we know are of concern to the public, and chat about the work we have planned for the coming months in the north of Caerphilly.

Thank you to everyone who came along, and everyone who continues to contact us over social media, over the phone or by visiting our regular surgeries: these conversations provide an invaluable opportunity to reassure you that we’re listening, that we’re focusing on the things you’ve reported to us, but also gather further information that may inform crucial investigations.

We welcomed both residents and elected members to Rhymney, and, as your inspector, I’m grateful that I’ve been able to talk to you directly about the issues you feel are having the greatest impact on your day-to-day lives and reassure you that our work continues to focus on, and tackle, concerns around, for example, the use of off-road bikes and drug supply.

In addition, we were able to explore further opportunities for partnership working in the area. What is clear and pleasing to hear, especially after speaking to elected members at the surgery, is that we're all driven by the same objective of protecting and reassuring our communities and increasing safety.

We share results of our operations online and via social media, and the team was able to share news of our Operation Harley results (the off-road bike operation has recently seen us seize one quad bike, four off-road bikes, two 4x4 vehicles and recover three stolen vehicles) as well as how we uncovered a large-scale cannabis cultivation in Aberbargoed recently.

I also spoke about the recent increase in calls reporting quad bikes being used on the high street. Our colleagues in roads policing and specialist operations have continued to support us and, over the past month, three people have been arrested on suspicion of drug driving offences, while seven vehicles have been seized for being driven without a licence or insurance. Continued support from the community in helping identify those responsible for using off-road vehicles is appreciated.

CSOs also recently recovered a vehicle in Abertysswg which had been reported as being stolen from the Cardiff area, while our response officers seized a vehicle being driven in an anti-social manner.

Crime prevention and creating safer streets

Those in attendance were also able to, as part of our Safer Streets project in the area, sign up to receive Smart Water packs and learn more about our crime prevention project.

Smart Water is a liquid forensic property marking technology that allows you to mark your valuable items with an invisible signature – making them easier to identify and return if stolen.

To date, our CSOs have supplied over 350 families in Rhymney with Smart Water. The Safer Streets project has also seen over 200 homes in the area receive additional home security improvements, including Ring doorbells and security lighting, and additional CCTV cameras installed to help tackle vehicle crime and the fuel theft in the area.

I’ll be holding further surgeries like these across Bargoed and Ystrad Mynach in the near future.

The team has also been involved in local engagement activities

CSOs Mike Platt and Munian were able to meet a number of residents at the recent carnival in Philipstown, while our Rhymey CSOs enjoyed attending Cwtch Café at Rhymney library and the weekly coffee morning at Elim Church where they were to talk to and provide advice to local residents.

The team is busy preparing for anti-social behaviour awareness week, and you’ll see many of us across Rhymney, Bargoed and Ystrad Mynach as we work with South Wales Fire & Rescue Service, Youth Services, Outreach teams, our Nxt Gen team and our Safer Caerphilly partners to raise awareness and talk about the impact ASB has on our communities and what we’re doing to address specific concerns like deliberate fire-setting.

Keep an eye out on Twitter and Facebook for details of the events that we will be holding.

News in brief | disrupting drug supply

Officers recently carried out a warrant in Aberbargoed, uncovering a commercial cannabis cultivation with an estimated street value of over £500,000.

Around 1,000 plants were located at the location. Our investigation to identify those responsible is currently ongoing, and you may see more of our officers in the area as we carry out our enquiries. If you have any information that you think may help, or have any concerns you wish to discuss, please do stop and talk to our officers.

We also carried out a warrant at the beginning of the month, recovering a quantity of class A drugs. This investigation continues.

Illegal drugs have no place in our society and Gwent Police will continue to undertake operations - like this one in Aberbargoed - to target anyone involved in the supply of controlled drugs.

Investigations and how you can help

Thank you to everyone who responds to our social media appeals asking for information. The information you provide plays a significant part in informing our investigations, so you play a huge role in helping us protect our communities.

We recently appealed for information to find a 29-year-old from Pontlottyn, Rhymney, as we believe he may be able to help with an investigation into a burglary.

Anyone with any information on his whereabouts can call 101 or DM us on Facebook or Twitter, quoting 2200208287.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A welcome to our new officers

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to some new members of our Caerphilly north neighbourhood team

In May, three new community support officers completed their training and joined our team. CSO Anka Sadzik has been welcomed to the Rhymney team, CSO Huw Widlake to New Tredegar and CSO Nicola Bateman to Bargoed.

We’ve also been joined by PC Leon Jenkins as the Rhymney ward manager and PS Thomas Brookes, our new neighbourhood sergeant.

Thank you.

Inspector Lysha Thompson