09 March 2009
Phillipstown is set to be the focus of a major multi agency operation next week, as part of a drive to tackle crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area.
CANDO (Community and Neighbourhood Directed Operations) is an initiative that works with local communities to identify solutions to local problems, which includes providing a high visibility presence to tackle the identified issues.
Phillipstown has been blighted with anti-social behaviour and enviro-crime issues for a considerable period of time, and despite various interventions and ongoing work, the problems appear to remain.
This being the case, officers from Gwent Police, Caerphilly County Borough Council and various other agencies decided that Phillipstown would be an ideal candidate to receive a week of high visibility, targeted activity to help eradicate the problems currently being experienced in and around the village.
The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership and associated agencies have identified the following issues throughout the past twelve months, which have contributed significantly to Phillipstown being identified as an ideal area for a targeted CANDO:
- CCBC's Tenancy Enforcement section has received a total of 14 complaints about residents in Phillipstown for anti-social behaviour issues
- CCBC's Cleansing team have received:
- 71 calls regarding illicit tipping in Phillipstown
- 2 calls regarding scattered sharps collection in Phillipstown
- 44 reports of stolen bins in Phillipstown
- 6 street cleansing requests for Phillipstown
- CCBC's Environmental Health service has received:
- 15 requests for service regarding dog fouling in Phillipstown
- 4 noise complaints in Phillipstown
- CCBC's Education and Welfare report that 7 Phillipstown residents were excluded for periods of time from Rhymney Comprehensive School
- Gwent Police report that:
- At December 2008's PACT meeting, the following priorities were established:
- Anti social behaviour in and around the village
- Lack of lighting in some areas of the village
- Lack of youth facilities
- Stray dogs
- Anti social behaviour and lack of youth facilities has featured heavily as a priority at previous PACT meetings also.
- South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has reported an increase in fire incidents regarding refuse and fly-tipping in the Phillipstown area.
- CCBC's Community Safety Wardens and CCTV operators currently have one hotspot area logged in Phillipstown for high visibility patrolling.
- The Youth Justice Team have reported that between 1st January and 31st December 2008, 10 young people from Phillipstown carried out the following offences:
- 2 thefts
- 2 instances of causing harassment and distress by using threatening words or behaviour
- 2 common assaults
- 7 breaches of ASBO
- 1 breach of a supervision order
- 2 instances of criminal damage
- 1 case of interfering/intimidation of a witness
- 3 cases of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour
- 1 burglary
- 1 assault on a police officer
- 1 breach of curfew order
- 3 breaches of community rehabilitation order
Now that these issues have been established, this will aid partner agencies in working together to establish local solutions to identified problems, and help to make Phillipstown a more pleasant place to live and visit for all concerned.
Previous CANDO's in areas including Blackwood and Caerphilly town centres, Pontllanfraith and Penyrheol have all in the past experienced similar problems to the ones Phillipstown are currently experiencing, and have all benefitted significantly from a week long CANDO operation.
Agencies that will be taking part in the Phillipstown CANDO include:
- The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership
- Gwent Police – high visibility patrols and several community safety related initiatives
- Gwent Probation Service – will be undertaking graffiti removal as part of community reparation work
- CCBC's Cleansing Department
- CCBC's Community Safety Wardens – high visibility patrols to deter anti-social behaviour and general disorder
- Keep Wales Tidy/local Youth Offending Service (YOS) – youngsters will be carrying out litter picks as part of their community reparation work
- CCBC's Environmental Health officers – working to target "street scene" issues such as littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling
- British Transport Police
- Forestry Commission
- CCBC's Youth Service
Cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Lyn Ackerman said, "The success of CANDO initiatives are heavily reliant upon members of the local community working with us and our partner agencies to inform us of what issues they would like to see addressed – after all, the local community know better than anyone else which issues are most prevalent in their area.
The CANDO initiative allows key agencies to pool resources and expertise in a concerted effort to create safer, stronger communities across the county borough, and I'm sure the forthcoming CANDO in Phillipstown with be no exception."
For further information, please contact the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership on 01443 864374.
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