13 July 2009
Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, Andrew Davies AM visited Phillipstown last week (2nd July) to meet local residents and partners of the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, to see the excellent work that is ongoing in the area to help combat crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
Phillipstown has in the past experienced higher crime levels than other areas of the county borough, and low community confidence levels among residents of the village.
Extensive partnership working between agencies including Gwent Police, Caerphilly County Borough Council, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and others, has resulted in significant improvements being made to the village.
Andrew Davies AM visited residents and partners of the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership at Phillipstown Community Centre where he spoke with residents about the improvements that have been made to the village, how community confidence levels have increased as a result and how the partnership can continue to work together and with residents of Phillipstown in future.
The Minister said: " I have been saying for some time that in the current economic climate we must find a more imaginative and considered response in the way we deliver public services, based on the needs of citizens. This is a big challenge but we owe it to the people and communities we all serve.
"I am encouraged by examples of good practice like this one that I see in visits across Wales, where organisations are working in partnership to deliver really effective services that have a positive impact on communities."
Chair of the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, Superintendant Jon Burley said, "The members of the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership have been working together to help improve the quality of life for residents in Phillipstown and the wider Rhymney area.
The support from the community has been outstanding and we are working together with volunteers and agencies to address both short and longer-term community priorities. I would ask everyone to engage with us and bring any problems to our attention as soon as possible so that they can be dealt with quickly."
Over the past few months, a great deal of highly visible work has taken place in and around the village, perhaps the most notable being a week-long CANDO (Community and Neighbourhood Directed Operation) in March.
The initiative aims to address local solutions to local problems, with the support of the local community. During the weeklong initiative:
- Joint patrols were conducted between the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and British Transport Police of the local area to prevent anti-social behaviour.
- Letters offering crime prevention advice were sent to owners of vehicles who had left valuables in display in their vehicles.
- Graffiti was removed from numerous areas of the village.
- CCBC's Community Safety Wardens conducted high visibility patrols throughout the duration of the week, and the mobile CCTV van was used as a deterrent for anti-social activity.
- Illicit tipping was removed from several areas of the village, including around the allotments, behind the shop and at the park next to the school.
- A total of 3.5 tonnes of refuse was collected throughout the course of the week.
In addition, Gwent Police officers and Caerphilly County Borough Council's team of Community Safety Wardens carried out high visibility patrols of the village, to both deter possible criminal or anti-social behaviour and also to provide reassurance to members of the community.
Mr Davies, on his visit, also had the opportunity to talk to Caerphilly County Borough Council Youth Workers, who have been working tirelessly with youths from Phillipstown and the surrounding area, providing activities for the youngsters to take part in, as a means of occupying the youngsters' time, and creating a diversion from possible anti-social behaviour.
For further information, please visit the Safer CCB website.
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