Forging closer links with the community, tackling antisocial behaviour and boosting public confidence are some of the goals announced by Gwent Police in its new three-year policing plan.
The plan for 2010 to 2013 outlines the priorities of the force and details how it will be scored in each area of policing to inform the Police Report Card, recently introduced by the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.
Residents can access the Report Card by visiting mypolice.org.uk
Cilla Davies, chair of the Gwent Police Authority, said: “The developments made by the force in the last 12 months have been very pleasing, particularly the 7% increase we have seen in public confidence in Gwent Police, the largest improvement for any force in the UK.
“Our focus remains on fulfilling our responsibility to protect and reassure local residents and providing a service that is visible, accessible and accountable.
“This plan balances the wishes of local communities with regional and national policing priorities to ensure that we are effectively tackling the issues that matter most to people living in Gwent.”
Chief Constable of Gwent Police Mick Giannasi said: “The force is currently in a strong position and I am optimistic about the continuous improvements we can achieve as part of this new plan.
“Last year we increased our number of neighbourhood officers by 25 and we plan further investment in frontline policing with the recruitment of an extra 150 officers this year.
“There have been 2,000 less incidents of anti-social behaviour in Gwent this financial year to date compared to last year and as a policing priority identified by Gwent residents, we are committed to taking further positive action to tackle this issue. We are also working hard to further enhance the service we offer to victims and witnesses.
“The re-structure of our business support function will continue as part of the Staying Ahead programme. Over £7 million of efficiency savings have been delivered already, and further efforts will be made to ensure we are providing the most effective support to frontline officers and the most value for money for local residents.”