Caerphilly officers encourage residents to say 'not in my neighbourhood'

Neighbourhood Policing Teams across Caerphilly will be holding a range of events and initiatives to deliver crime prevention advice and listen to local concerns, as part of Not In My Neighbourhood Week.

During the week (Monday 2nd - Friday 6th November), a number of activities will be held in partnership with the local council and Safer Caerphilly community safety partnership, as well as local volunteers.

This is part of a national campaign which aims to encourage communities to work together to improve their quality of life and raise awareness of the work being done by agencies to address issues in their neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be visiting local supermarkets and town centres to hold surgeries, and provide crime prevention advice. Members of crime prevention panels and neighbourhood watch schemes will also be attending a number of events to encourage more volunteers to join local initiatives.

On some of the dates, officers will also be post-coding property including mobile phones, sat navs and iPods. Here’s a round-up of the events:

• Monday 2nd November, 10am - 2pm, Aldi Supermarket, Risca
• Monday 2nd November, 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm, Bargoed town centre outside Young at Heart: street surgery with officers, local councillors and community safety wardens
• Tuesday 3rd November, 10am - 2pm, Morrisions Supermarket, Caerphilly
• Tuesday 3rd November, 10am - 2pm, Tesco, Ystrad Mynach
• Tuesday 3rd November, 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm, Baroged town centre outside Young at Heart: street surgery with officers, local councillors and community safety wardens
• Wednesday 4th November, 10am - 2pm, Aldi supermarket, Rhymney
• Wednesday 4th November, 11am - 12pm, B&Q, Caerphilly
• Thursday 5th November, 10am - 2pm, Sommerfield, Ystrad Mynach
• Friday 6th November, 10am - 1pm, Blackwood Market

Some of the older members of the community will also be receiving visits from officers at local clubs and sheltered housing accommodation, to raise awareness of doorstep crime and the steps that can be taken to reduce it. In Risca, the local Crime And Disorder Reduction Officer is also visiting older and vulnerable residents at home - if you live in Risca and would like a visit, please contact PC Karen Gifford on 01495 232434.

Officers from the Bargoed Neighbourhood Policing Team will also be delivering crime prevention sessions to the Rhymni Mind group, and offering free smoke alarms from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

On the Thursday morning (5th November), local officers will be in the Hanbury Road car park in Bargoed from 10am. They will be running a vehicle crime competition with the chance to win Argos vouchers. They will also be conducting items on view checks on vehicles and highlighting any lapses in security to local residents.

In Pontllanfraith, the local School Liaison Officer will be addressing assemblies at the local comprehensive school to raise awareness of the effects of anti-social behaviour.

Pupils at St James Primary School (Lansbury Park) and Coed-y-Brain Primary School (Llanbradach) will receive road safety sessions from the Bedwas Neighbourhood Policing Team during the week. They will also be monitoring the speeds of traffic on local roads using a digital speed display. Speeding is currently a PACT priority in both the St James and Llanbradach wards and the pupils will be helping to highlight to motorists the speeds that they are travelling.

The Ystrad Mynach ward PACT (Partnerships and Communities Together) meeting will also be held during the week. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 3rd November at 6pm in the Canolfan Gristnogol Siloh Christian Centre on Oakfield Street. Local residents are invited to attend to help identify the priorities for the ward.

In the run-up to the week, local officers are increasing their high visibility patrols and together with Trading Standards, will be encouraging local shops not to sell eggs and flour to under-18s around Halloween. This is being echoed in posters reminding people that ‘eggs have many uses, throwing isn’t one of them’.

Gwent Police posters have also been delivered to local schools, reminding their students that not everyone wants to join in the festivities and to respect their wishes.

Residents who do not want to be disturbed can display a pumpkin poster in their window or door asking for no callers. You can cut one out from this month’s edition of Caerphilly Council’s Newsline, download one from the Gwent Police website (www.gwent.police.uk), or pick one up from your local police station.

Caerphilly Partnership Sergeant Rob Davies, said:
“During this week we will holding a range of surgeries and events, highlighting the work that we are currently undertaking in local communities with our partners. We will also be using the week to deliver crime prevention advice to local residents, and highlighting some of the steps that they can take to help keep their homes and vehicles secure.

Halloween and Bonfire Night also fall within this week and typically it’s one of the busiest times of year for the police. However, it is only a small minority of people who spoil the festivities. We are working with local shops to encourage them not to sell eggs of flour to young people during this period, and we are confiscating any of these items that we come across on our patrols.”