15 December 2011
Partygoers are being reminded 'don't have a nightmare this Christmas', as officers begin preparations to help keep Caerphilly County Borough residents safe this Christmas.
Gwent Police Officers will team up with Caerphilly County Borough Council's Community Safety Wardens and CCTV Operators, as well as St John's Ambulance and Street Pastors to help ensure revellers out and about in Caerphilly County Borough's town centres this Christmas have a safe and enjoyable time.
Police Officers and Community Safety Wardens are increasing their patrols over the festive period, and will be reminding revellers visiting local pubs and clubs of the consequences of being caught acting anti-socially or taking part in criminal activity.
St. John's Ambulance will also be assisting on some of the busiest nights, by operating a mobile triage service.
This is the fourth year that the medical centre has been run in the borough to provide emergency treatment to local revellers, so that Accident and Emergency departments at hospitals receive fewer people at their busiest times.
The triage service will be available in Blackwood Town Centre on: Friday 23rd December, Saturday 24th December, Monday 26th December (6pm to 2am) and Caerphilly Town Centre: Friday 23rd December, Saturday 24th December, Monday 26th December (6pm to 2am) and Saturday 31st December (8pm to 3am).
If you're hitting the shops this Christmas or out on the town in the Caerphilly Borough then look out for the Gwent Police Mobile Police Station that will be taking to the streets to tackle retail crime, as well as issues of theft of personal belongings, burglary, personal safety and alcohol related violence. Our new Caerphilly cadets will also be helping local officers offering crime prevention tips and messages to local residents and shoppers.
Caerphilly County Borough Council is also keen to raise awareness of a scheme called CAB SAFE.
By texting the word 'CAB' to 83222, a text message will then be sent containing the numbers of three registered taxi firms that serve the area from which the person is texting. The automatic reply service, which costs 50p per text plus standard message rate, sends out numbers on a random basis so that all registered firms receive equal opportunities for business.
Town Safe will be operating in Caerphilly, Bargoed, Blackwood and Risca town centres every Friday and Saturday between the hours of 8pm to 3am throughout December - this will involve an increased Police visibility to deal with issues relating to the night time economy.
This year, the new Risca and Caerphilly Street pastors will be out in force as well as Blackwood's existing dedicated team of Street Pastors, they will be present in the town centres, carrying out a pastoral roles over the festive period, which will include helping to prevent people from becoming victims of crime and promoting personal and community safety.
Gwent Police and the Blackwood Crime Prevention Panel has also teamed up with Halfords, Blackwood and Halfords Caerphilly, to offer free security bike marking to new bikes purchased in the store throughout December.
Caerphilly Partnership Inspector, Kevin Childs said: "This one of the busiest times of year for the police, as well as other emergency services. We don't want to spoil anyone's fun, but we also don't want revellers to become the victims of crime or indeed an offender, as a result of drinking too much alcohol. By working together with our partners we can provide a service that ensures town centres are safe environments for local people."
Cllr Rob Gough, Cabinet Member for Public Protection said: "I would encourage people out and about over the festive period to work with us to help ensure that everyone remains safe. With a traditional increase in alcohol consumption over this festive period, tempers can occasionally flare, but by acting responsibly and behaving sensibly you will be helping us and our partners to ensure that everyone has a safe, trouble-free and enjoyable time".
A dedicated website - www.donthaveanightmare.org.uk - has also been launched as part of the Don't Have a Nightmare This Christmas initiative, with plenty of top crime prevention tips for the holiday period.
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