“Absence” of antisocial behaviour during dispersal notice, police say

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There was an “absence of antisocial behaviour reports” after a dispersal notice was put in place in Newbridge over the weekend, police have said.

The notice came into effect at 4pm on Friday (April 16), and was lifted at 2.30am on Sunday (April 18).

It was put in place after reports of a large group of youths throwing stones off the Calzaghe Bridge the previous weekend (April 10 and 11).

Two house windows were smashed and two cars were damaged that weekend.

The area covered by the dispersal notice included the Calzaghe Bridge, the business park where McDonald’s and The Otter are located, Newbridge Comprehensive School and Newbridge Leisure Centre – which is currently operating as a mass coronavirus vaccination centre.

It also covered Beynon Street, Blaen Blodau Street, Bridge Street, Celymen Road, Grove Street and High Street.

Gwent Police inspector Andrew Boucher said: “Following the issuing of the dispersal order on Friday afternoon, we noticed an absence of antisocial behaviour reports in Newbridge in comparison to the previous weekend.”

While the dispersal notice was in force, police had the power to stop people from entering the area if they believed they had engaged or would have engaged in antisocial behaviour.

Inspector Boucher said arrangements had been made to move people out of the dispersal area and into a “displacement” area, but said: “Fortunately we did not see many reports of antisocial behaviour in those places either.

“Officers did not seize any alcohol during the dispersal period and no referrals for antisocial behaviour were issued either.”

“My team and I would like to thank the public for their cooperation over the previous weekend.”

He added: “Anyone caught committing an act of antisocial behaviour will be prosecuted.

“I would urge anyone with any information relating to the identity of those responsible for the antisocial behaviour on Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 – or anyone who has any CCTV footage – to call us on 101, send us a direct message on social media or contact local neighbourhood officers.”