I enjoyed getting out to some of Caerphilly’s communities over the last few months to visit a number of the projects that receive money from my community fund.

These include skateboarding workshops that have been run across the county and a graffiti workshop at the Senghenydd Youth Drop in Centre. It was fantastic to see so many young people trying something new and enjoying themselves.

The purpose of these projects is to give children and young people something that they can channel their energy into and where they can develop their confidence and skills, and work with positive adult role models.

Children and young people are often the most vulnerable people in our communities, and this can put them at risk of becoming involved in crime and antisocial behaviour. The purpose of these sessions is to offer them an alternative to this, and hopefully to steer them onto a more positive course for the future.

Gwent Police officers in Rhymney hosted Safer Streets drop-in sessions for residents of the Moriah, Pontlottyn and Twyn Carno wards of Rhymney earlier this month.

Safer Streets is a Home Office grant fund which can be used by police forces to tackle neighbourhood crimes such as burglary.

The aims of the project are simple – to make streets and communities safer, to reduce neighbourhood crime and to support victims. Through offering improved door and window locks to those in the area who need them, and crime prevention packs to others, for example, Gwent Police is helping residents protect their valuable possessions.

For more information on our Safer Streets work you can visit the Gwent Police website.

It is that time of year when I must ask you what you are prepared to pay for policing in 2022/2023.

Almost 50% of Gwent Police’s overall budget now comes from local council taxpayers and it is my responsibility to set the amount that you pay towards policing each month.

To make this decision, I must take into account the amount of money that the Chief Constable says Gwent Police needs to operate an efficient and effective service, the annual financial settlement from the UK Government, and the affordability for local council tax payers.

The daily demands on policing continue to grow. I have committed to increasing police officer posts in Gwent and I am proud that today we are in a much better position than when I was first elected in 2016, with more than 200 extra police officers serving our communities.

Our current financial planning tells us that to maintain services at current levels we would need a rise in the council tax precept of up to £2 a month for the average band D property. This would also allow us to invest in a further 10 police community support officers to work in our communities.

This is always an incredibly difficult decision to take and before I make any final decisions, I want to hear your views. Please take the time to visit my website and have your say – www.gwent.pcc.police.uk