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A police scheme targeting antisocial behaviour ‘hotspots’ has led to 30 arrests in Blackwood over the last four months – with 41 vehicles seized.

Gwent Police’s Community Action Team (CAT) was formed in June this year to work alongside the force’s neighbourhood policing teams.

Led by Inspector Laura Paget, the team has patrolled Blackwood, Tredegar, Llantarnam in Cwmbran, and Alway in Newport over the last four months, tackling antisocial behaviour, and vehicle and drug crimes.

In total, 120 arrests have been made in these areas since the scheme began.

Inspector Paget explained the scheme was set up to “provide additional support in areas being adversely affected by crime and disorderly behaviour”.

She said: “Over the last few months, our team has worked hard to deliver on these aims and has seen notable arrests across the areas we’ve been targeting.

“Most recently, we’ve worked with neighbourhood officers in Torfaen to investigate an increase in shoplifting offences, and have made arrests in Bargoed and Ebbw Vale for drug offences.”

Inspector Paget said it was “particularly pleasing” to see positive response to the scheme online, and continued: “In recent months reports of antisocial behaviour across Tredegar and Blackwood have dropped, demonstrating the team’s having a positive impact.

“We’re constantly analysing crime trends and listening to the public and, over the next four months, will be based across Llantarnam, Ebbw Vale, Aberbargoed and Bettws, and aiming to tackle shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, and vehicle crime.”

Earlier this year, antisocial behaviour in Blackwood was likened to that in the Bronx area of New York City by the town’s now-mayor, Cllr George Etheridge – who said the problem was “out of control”.