South Wales Police campaign brings focus to shoplifting and knife crime
A knife crime awareness event in Penarth has marked the halfway stage of a summer-long initiative aimed at making town centres across South Wales safer
A knife crime awareness event in Penarth has marked the halfway stage of a summer-long initiative aimed at making town centres across South Wales safer.
The event, held near Glebe Street in partnership with the charity Fearless and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, encouraged people to learn more about the risks of carrying a knife and how to report concerns about weapons.
Businesses and residents were also given information on anti-social behaviour and the role of neighbourhood policing teams.
South Wales Police say activity has increased since the launch of their Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, with intelligence-led patrols and community engagement events contributing to a drop in shoplifting reports in Penarth during July.
Chief Inspector Tony Williams said the work was part of ongoing efforts to build safer town centres and encouraged residents to make use of their local named officer to stay informed and raise concerns.
Chief Inspector Tony Williams said:
“Neighbourhood Policing Teams across South Wales Police have been working extremely hard, alongside local authorities and partners, to make our town centres safer in line with the Safer Summer initiative.
“I’d like to remind residents and businesses that each community now has a named, contactable officer, listed for their area enabling them to reach out, engage with the local teams and be kept informed on local issues and priorities.”
Similar initiatives are underway in Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend, Barry and other areas.
In Merthyr Tydfil, a pilot project called Project Pili-Pala has been launched to support teenage girls and raise awareness of issues including consent, safety and county lines.
The prevention-focused, trauma-informed initiative, aimed at girls aged 13-16, is designed specifically to provide support through early intervention and confidence-building outside of sport-focused engagement.
In Bridgend, targeted patrols and youth engagement have coincided with reductions in robbery, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.
The initiative, Op Riella in July saw an 80% reduction in robbery, 44% decrease in ASB, and 17.1% decrease in shoplifting.
South Wales Police says these reductions have been attributed to the use of policing powers such as community protection warnings, referral orders, and youth engagement activity.