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Gwent Police has been given around three quarters of a million pounds from the Home Office – with a portion of that set to be spent tackling antisocial behaviour in Blackwood.

The funding, which is part of the Safer Streets initiative, comes only a week after Blackwood ward councillor Kevin Etheridge described the situation in Blackwood town centre as an “epidemic” due to repeated police dispersal orders.

Dispersal orders give police officers extra powers to direct those whose behaviour is causing alarm or distress to the public, to leave the area. If they return after being moved on, they could be arrested.

Gwent Police is yet to confirm how much of the £750,000 will be spent on Blackwood – or when it will be spent. It has however said that the money will be used to reduce “burglary, robbery and theft via educational youth outreach programmes and CCTV”.

Cllr Etheridge described the news as “most welcome” and added: “We desperately need more visible resources.”

With young people the main focus of Safer Streets, Independent councillor Etheridge said: “Ignoring the youth of Blackwood is not an option. We need more community engagement.

“Whether that is police speaking to local traders and reassuring them, or inviting young people to talk, something has to change.”

Caerphilly Observer contacted Gwent Police for more information about how this money will help Blackwood specifically. Chief Inspector Damian Sowrey said: “During the application process for the latest round of Safer Streets funding, we spoke to partners at local authorities and listened to our communities when analysing what the main concerns are across our towns.

“We want our communities to feel safe, so, in towns like Blackwood for example, Safer Streets will bring improvements to CCTV, and the delivery of home security equipment and crime prevention packs at community drop-in sessions.”

More information on Safer Streets and the funding can be found here.