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Gwent Police has announced it’s secured an additional £1million in funding to bolster neighbourhood policing and increase patrols in antisocial behaviour hotspots.

The money, provided by the UK Government, will be spent patrolling areas such as Blackwood, Cwmbran, Tredegar, and Abergavenny, according to the force.

Between April 2024 and the end of March 2025, an additional 7,000 hours were spent patrolling ‘hotspot’ areas across Gwent.

This, the force’s lead for neighbourhood policing says, contributed to a reduction in reports of antisocial behaviour over the last year.

Chief superintendent Jason White said: “Positively, in the first 12 months of the operation we’ve been able to increase visible patrols across 18 hotspot areas in Gwent and have seen a 6% reduction in reports of ASB.

“Over the next year, we’re committed to complementing our existing patrols with an additional 9,000 hours’ worth of high-visibility policing as part of operation Lockwood.”

He continued: “Our force has a strong, robust focus on neighbourhood policing and, along with the recent/upcoming launch of a community action team – who will focus on tackling ASB and specific crime trends in certain areas – this funding will enable us to maintain and increase visibility in our communities.

“Officers not only act as a visible deterrent but are in the hearts of our communities to listen to you about any concerns you have.

“This ensures we have officers in the right places at the right times, focusing on the issues affecting residents.”

The initiative will see officers continue to work in partnership with community safety teams across Gwent’s five local authority areas, with a focus on reducing reports of disorder and knife crime.