As anti-social behaviour awareness week begins, we reflect on the last six months of additional patrols targeting disorder

Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is one of our key priorities.

Our officers work day in, day out to target offenders, bring them to justice and deter future offending.

As an integral part of five community safety partnerships (CSPs) in Gwent, we work closely with partners to plan and carry out numerous operations and initiatives to tackle and prevent ASB.

In April, we became part of a national ‘hotspot policing drive’, which sees officers more frequently deployed to patrol areas affected by disorderly behaviour.

These targeted patrols are part of a wider operation funded by the Home Office, aimed at driving down anti-social behaviour and serious violence.

As well as targeting offenders, the patrols are designed to deter future anti-social and criminal behaviour and to reassure the public, helping them feel safer in public spaces.

Between April – October, PCSOs, officers and sergeants patrolled an additional 2,853 hours in 18 ‘hotspot’ areas in our town centres, high streets and public spaces.

This sustained police presence and focus on stamping out ASB resulted in:

• 63 people arrested
• 58 stop searches carried out
• 21 weapons seized.

Chief Superintendent Carl Williams, Gwent Police’s lead on anti-social behaviour and harm reduction, said:

“During the first six months of the operation, across the 18 areas in which we’ve increased patrols in we’ve recorded around 10% fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour when compared to the same period last year.

“It’s important we build on this and continue to robustly respond to incidents causing residents concern.

“We want Gwent to be a place where people always feel safe, and will continue to speak to our communities to ensure we’ve a good understanding of the type of behaviour impacting them. This ensures we patrol the right areas, at the right times, and enables us to plan further work target offenders or prevent incidents in the first instance.”

This week, we’ve joined a national campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Running between November 18 - 24, ASB Awareness Week 2024 aims to encourage communities to take a stand against ASB and highlight the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.

Organised by Resolve, the UK’s leading ASB and community safety organisation, the week features a series of events across the UK involving local authorities, police services, housing associations, charities, community groups and sports clubs.

We’ll have officers carrying out patrols, operations and more. Keep an eye on our social media channels throughout the week for more news on our work during #ASBAwarenessWeek.