14 April 2010
Funding seized from criminal assets had been used to install railings in Aberbargoed to help stop the illegal use of off-road motorbikes.
Officers from the Bargoed Neighbourhood Policing Team secured £1,000 from the Government's Community Cashback scheme. Community Cashback provides funding for worthwhile community projects, using 'cashback' from criminals' seized assets, such as confiscated cash or property.
The railings have been installed on a ten-metre stretch of land on the edge of the Aberbargoed tip. Residents were concerned about off-road motorbikes that were coming down from the tip and being driven around the children's play area in Cwrt Coch Street.
The use of off-road motorbikes has previously been a PACT priority for the Aberbargoed ward.
PCSO Eve Churchward said, "We wanted to install railings as another way of helping to stop off-road motorbikes being driven in the area, particularly into the children's playground, which could be very dangerous. Residents have said that this is an issue that concerns them, and so we are working to address it. If anyone has any information about who is using off-road motorbikes illegally, then I would ask them to get in contact with us."
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, "The fact that residents have previously raised this issue as a priority at PACT meetings clearly illustrates how much of a detrimental impact off road biking was having on their day-to-day lives.
It is therefore especially pleasing that such a worthwhile community project has been able to benefit from receiving some of the ill-gotten gains of criminals, which will contribute significantly to ensuring the safety of those in and around the children's playground."
To contact the Bargoed Neighbourhood Policing Team please phone 02920 857455 or e-mail Bargoed Neighbourhood Policing Team.
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