OFFICERS in Gwent are carrying out a range of winter operations to tackle seasonal crimes linked to retail theft, night-time economy, road offences and anti-social behaviour.

Additional patrols across the hotspot areas in Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Newport and Monmouthshire are being led in line with Operation Lockwood, while the force’s Community Action Team continue to see positive results in driving down theft offences in town centres and retail parks.

Gwent Police’s neighbourhood policing lead, Chief Superintendent Jason White, said the service’s visible enforcement, locally tailored approaches and partnership working across areas hit by shoplifting and anti-social behaviour has yielded positive results.

He said: “Both our chef constable and police and crime commissioner are united in their commitment to increasing visible policing in our neighbourhoods; which has been evidenced by the creation of a new proactive policing team, an increase in patrols in hotspot areas and continued work with partners to tackle the issue our communities say are affecting them.

“The recent introduction of a new community messaging service- neighbourhood Matters- is and ensure our officers are where residents need us most, while the delivery of a crime prevention programme is helping residents and businesspeople alike protect themselves from acquisitive crimes like burglary and theft.”

The Home Office’s Winter of Action builds on the Safer Streets Summer Initiative which took place in almost 650 town centres nationwide and resulted in over 16,000 arrests and fines, mostly for shop theft and anti-social behaviour.

Ch Supt White added: “Building on a positive summer, neighbourhood policing teams across Gwent are now carrying out locally tailored operations to crack down on rising crime trends.

“For example, officers in Blackwood continue to conduct a mixture of visible and plain-clothed operations on the high street and have carried out numerous on stop searches, seized several bikes and e-scooters and made arrests, while shoplifting patrols at Newport Retail Park recently resulted in a 34-year-old man from Monmouth being arrested on suspicion of theft from a shop and going equipped for theft.

“At a time when we typically see offences like parcel thefts, thefts from vehicles and shoplifting increasing, our We Don’t Buy Crime team has also been out across Gwent delivering on array of crime prevention sessions to help protect their vehicles, tools and belongings.”

As part of the service’s Winter of Action programme, police officers in Newport have also continued working with partners, as part of the City Safe initiative, to increase the safety of pup-goers, businesses and staff in the city centre.

For more on Gwent Police’s work across the festive period, keep an eye on social media accounts.