21 June 2010
Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour and Drug Related Crime Says Merthyr
Tackling anti-social behaviour and drug related crime should be the top priorities for the police say the people of Merthyr Tydfil, in a survey carried out by South Wales Police Authority.
Dealing with drug related crime and tackling anti-social behaviour are also the top priority in the survey, carried out in the town’s Asda store last week. A total of 113 people took part, including local Assembly Member, Huw Lewis (picture attached).
The survey saw people being given £100 of token money to ‘spend’ on their top priorities. The money for each of the nine policing areas was then totalled, to find out what the priorities were. The results found the following:
Anti-social behaviour – 18% (of the total money spent)
Burglary – 8%
Car crime – 6%
Drug related crime – 18%
Gun crime – 6%
Public protection, including domestic violence – 13%
Terrorism – 7%
Violent crime – 10%
Visibility of police officers – 13%
Other – 1%
Local Police Authority Member, Councillor Jeff Edwards, said: “Anti-social behaviour is always a top priority for South Wales Police. The impact this can have on individuals and communities can be devastating, which is why we and the police force are committed to tackling it. This is also true of dealing with drug related crime and increasing the visibility of the police. While these results are not surprising, it is reassuring to know that the priorities we set are the same as those of the public we represent.
“I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who spared a couple of minutes to take part in the roadshow, and can assure them they have had an impact on the setting the priorities for the next year. The approach we have used is very interactive and makes people think about their priorities. While the roadshow has already taken place in Merthyr, the survey is still available on our website, and I cannot encourage people enough to log on and take part.”