Come along and have your say!

26 September 2008

The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership is inviting local residents to come along and have their say at a public meeting, on the community safety issues they would like to see addressed in the Risca area.

The meeting, which is being held in preparation for the forthcoming multi agency CANDO (Community and Neighbourhood Directed Operation) in the area, will be held at Moriah Baptist Church, Tredegar Street, Risca on Thursday 2nd October at 6pm.

CANDO is an initiative that works with communities throughout the county borough to identify solutions to local problems, which includes providing a high visibility presence to tackle the identified issues.

To date, seven CANDO's have been held in various locations across the borough, all of which showed substantial improvements to identified issues as a result.

Caerphilly County Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, "I would really urge local residents to come along and let us know their views on the community safety related issues in the Risca area, in preparation for the forthcoming CANDO. Operations such as this rely heavily on the views of the local community, and by coming along and participating in the discussion, we will be able to gain an insight into what issues our residents would like to see addressed."

CANDO was initially introduced to address perception levels of crime and disorder, which despite significant decreases in crime were disproportionately high. Much of this was being determined through low-level "signal" crimes that are often linked to anti social behaviour, such as broken windows and graffiti.

Past operations have seen efforts to increase awareness of security and crime prevention, as well as undertaking graffiti removal, litter picks, removal of abandoned vehicles, fly tipping and stray dogs.

Operations to target youths committing anti social behaviour and identifying licensed premises that sell alcohol to underage drinkers have also been included in past CANDO's.

For further information, please contact the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership on 01443 864374.