Gwent Police is moving to a new headquarters as part of a review aiming to ensure all police buildings deliver a citizen-focused service, it has been announced.
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, has instigated a “comprehensive review” into the force’s buildings and properties.
That review will also see Gwent Police HQ, which has been in Croesyceiliog for over 40 years, move to a new “purpose built site” in Cwmbran from 2019.
The PCC is aiming to improve community access to services and engagement, and cited the recent opening of the new Caerphilly Police Station as an example of those targets.
Mr Cuthbert said: “In providing an effective service, I am committed to ensuring the estate represents the needs of the communities we serve in a cost effective way. I also want it to reflect the evolution of digital policing and the interaction between the police service and its partners.
“Our proposal is to ensure we have operational hubs in close proximity to road and digital infrastructure that enable rapid response to mitigate threat, harm and risk to our communities.
“I was delighted to open Caerphilly Police Station recently which I believe provides an environment that facilitates neighbourhood policing engagement with the community.”
Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Julian Williams, said: “The nature of policing is changing as is the nature of criminality and we must evolve our service accordingly.
“We have a group of passionate, dedicated police officers and staff in Gwent who are committed to protecting and reassuring communities.”
Whilst I agree that providing a new building is more cost effective than trying to maintain the existing headquarters – policing will become even more remote.
We are moving in the direction of policing in the USA – but with a major difference …they have a much larger number of officers and a much larger budget.
Our policing has become one of rhetoric and gimmicks.
The Police and Crime Commissioner role was meant to improve police accountability and be more cost effective than the old Police Authority wjich it replaced – it has failed on both counts !
The police and crime commissioner is another role, where the power and responsibilty has gone to their head. These people need to realise that they are elected by the people and can be replaced.
Gwent police need a new building as a Headquarters, lets hope they spend the money wisely. Far to often today the quality of building works is terrable and not to a high standard. Now days we live in world where the quailty of construction is very poor and not built to last.
Gwrnt police needs to stop wasting money, i always say policing should be left to the police and not to outside agencies, who always seem to let power go to their head
Absolutely shocking
Again Gwent police most lazy police force ever.
They close the police station in Caerphilly sell off the land cheap to a housing company then open a shop station in the middle of Caerphilly shopping center that is closed more times then open last Saturday in Caerphilly the shop station was closed.soon the cost of running this will out run and we will end up paying the cost I always remember the sup station under brinsons East agents never was this open and the same in Abertridwr never open wait for it there will be a intercom put outside when closed please press
What a joke