Alleged money laundering plot (From Free Press Series)

Alleged money laundering plot

POLICE are investigating allegations of money laundering in the Trevethin area.

The news was revealed at a meeting of Torfaen council's cabinet committee yesterday.

Officers attended the meeting to talk about neighbourhood policing initiatives.

Speaking about the Trevethin area, Superintendent Jon Burley said: "We are looking at money laundering and seizing the assets of certain people. "We will be seizing assets. We're starting to have some successes in the Trevethin area by adopting that approach."

He said he was unable to give further details of the operation at that point as cases were already being dealt with in court.

Supt Burley was using policing in Trevethin as an example of the way neighbourhood policing could develop in other parts of Torfaen.

The Trevethin area has recently received extra police officers who will be based in the area and work with local groups to combat crime and anti-social disorder.

Earlier, chief superintendent Paul Symes admitted police had a communication problem.

"Where we do fail is in not telling people what we're doing," he told councillors.

Abersychan councillor Gwyneira Clark asked officers: "Do you get into an area early enough, before problems start?

"To me, you don't get into an area early enough to stop problems developing. If you don't deal with things early, they gain a foothold and are much harder to stop."

She said that was what had happened in the past in Garndiffaith and could be happening in Trevethin now.

Greenmeadow councillor Rose Seabourne, said: "A lot of people come to us with problems and when we ask them if they've contacted police, they say 'what's the point, they don't take any notice'."

Superintendent Symes said the issues of communication would improve and said the neighbourhood policing scheme would work long-term.