The leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Dimitri Batrouni, joined council officers, Gwent Police and other partners out and about in the city centre last week as part of a community safety week of action.

Officers from a number of council teams, led by our community protection team, were out engaging with residents and businesses about issues such as anti-social behaviour and community safety.

It follows on from the first day of action the teams carried out last month, and is the latest in a regular series of actions, patrols and partner days planned for the city centre.

Regular patrols of the city centre by the community protection team and the police over the last few months have been having an impact, with businesses saying that they had noticed less anti-social behaviour as a result.

A renewed public space protection order (PSPO) for the city centre was also agreed at last week’s meeting of full council. A PSPO is an order which is introduced in a specific location to help officers and the police deal with anti-social behaviour.

As part of the activities last week, officers from the council’s trading standards teams seized illegal tobacco products and illegal disposable vapes while carrying out checks on premises.

The council is also encouraging residents to report any instance of anti-social behaviour in any part of the city.

This can be done either through the Newport Council website or calling us on 01633 656 656.

Anti-social behaviour can also be reported to Gwent Police, either by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency, or online through their website.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to join the teams at the start of the week and hear more about their work and the challenges they are facing,” said Councillor Batrouni.

“Our officers and the police have regular patrols in the city centre to crack down on anti-social behaviour, and the feedback we received from businesses was that this is having an impact.

“We also heard from the police at last week’s council meeting that crime levels in the city centre and across the city have reduced over the last few months. Across the city, shoplifting is down 38 per cent, vehicle crime is down 28 per cent, and in the city centre specifically, crime is down 25 per cent over the last month or so.”

“These figures show that our work is having an impact.”

“Building reassurance with residents and businesses is a key part of fostering a sense of safety within our communities,” said Councillor Pat Drewett, cabinet member for communities and tackling poverty with responsibility for community safety.

“This action week has helped our officers and partners to continue build that reassurance and trust with the community, and develop those key relationships that will help tackle anti-social behaviour within our city centre.”

Superintendent Jason White, Gwent Police’s policing commander for the east of the force which covers Newport and Monmouthshire, said:

“We’re committed to working closely with licensees, community safety officers and night-time ambassadors to make life safer in Newport city centre for everyone

“With more visible patrols of officers in known hotspots, we have continued to see a month-on-month decrease in recorded offences for violent crime and robbery in the city centre.

“I want to reassure all residents, businesses and visitors to Newport that we’re listening to your concerns and the community safety week of action underlines our aims to reduce anti-social behaviour in Newport city centre.”