Gwent Police has launched a fleet of three “mobile police stations” to serve areas without a police station.
The vehicles, which cost the force £180,000, were first mooted when plans to close several police stations were first mentioned in November last year.
Superintendent David Johnson, who led the project to introduce the mobile stations, said: “We have a large number of rural or smaller communities which are some distance from the nearest police station. We want to ensure everyone in Gwent has the same access to our services, wherever they live.
“Local Policing Teams are already booking the mobile stations for visits, events and PACT surgeries and we’ll be publishing a timetable on the Gwent Police website at www.gwent.police.uk so members of the public will know when it’s due in their area.
“They’ll be driven and staffed by neighbourhood officers with excellent local policing knowledge.
“Residents are invited to come in and speak to officers when the stations are out and about. We want to hear about the kinds of issues which are of concern to residents and, perhaps, what we are doing well.
“Residents are welcome to sit inside the police stations to discuss local issues and the mobile stations are equipped with technology so officers can have access to progress updates on local incidents.”
Gwent Police Authority are currently considering plans to close down Fochriw, Nelson, Abertridwr and Lansbury Park stations.
The authority, which oversees the force’s budget, is already planning to sell Caerphilly Police Station.