Police clamp down on public disorder (From Free Press Series)

Police clamp down on public disorder

THERE has been a big reduction in the number of assaults and public order offences in Abergavenny during the past year, new crime figures reveal.

Det.Sgt Howard Salmon said there were several reasons for the reduction, including the positive action they had taken to identify and deal with the main offenders, and the closure of one of the town's nightclubs which led to a reduction in the number of people visiting the town at weekends.

He added: "Overall it has been a very successful year for the Abergavenny section and we still record one of the highest detection rates."

There were 115 assaults registered between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004, compared with 162 for the previous year. There was an even bigger reduction in public order offences, with a drop from 173 to 91 this year.

But there was a slight rise in thefts from vehicles, up 19 from 263 and in cases of criminal damage up by 11 from 408.

Dwelling house burglaries fell sharply from 142 to 88 and thefts of vehicles were also down from 315 to 306, but there were more cases of commercial premises being broken into, with an increase from 229 to 242. These include garages and sheds.

Det.Sgt.Salmon added: " There has been an overall reduction of seven per cent in crime which is good news. We have had some success with our initiative to target burglars, some of whom have committed numerous offences.

"This project is intelligence-led and we will continue to make it one of our priorities."

He said one area of concern was the cases of damage to properties and vehicles, the majority of which are senseless acts of vandalism, fuelled by drink.

He said: "One positive step forward in dealing with public order and nuisance behaviour is the introduction of ASBOs (anti-social behaviour orders) which put strict controls on culprits whose sole aim in life is to be a nuisance.

"Vehicle crime is a national problem and I will repeat my warning that if people leave valuables in their vehicles, there is always someone who will take them.

"Make sure your vehicle is secure and don't leave valuables in view. I have no doubt the majority of car crime and some burglaries are done to finance a drug habit.

"The drugs problem in this area, like many others, continues to be a major concern and every effort is being made to apprehend the dealers who are at the centre of this problem."