Caerphilly town’s new police station has had its official opening by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert.
The new station, which will have a front desk open to the public on weekdays, opened last month but had a formal opening ceremony on Friday, September 8.
Housed in a former mobile phone shop on Cardiff Road, the base cost the force £145,000 to buy and a further £170,000 to refurbish.
It will be open to the public Monday to Friday from 9am to 1.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm.
The public counter will be closed during Bank Holidays and weekends but the sation could be used by the Neighbourhood team during these days.
Gwent PCC Mr Cuthbert said the arrangements will be kept under review.
He said: “One of the most common issues raised with me since my election is the issue of police visibility and the provision of police stations.
“It’s about getting the balance right between provision and reassurance, which includes having a responsive police service and well located police stations.
“I want to ensure that we provide an accessible policing service in Gwent which adequately responds to local need and provides assurance to the community. This new station is part of that commitment.”
At the opening, Mr Cuthbert confirmed the he will be conducting an “in-depth” review of Gwent Police buildings to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and where possible potentially share those sites with other public bodies and maybe third sector organisations to share costs and keep locations open.
Gwent Police Chief Constable Julian Williams: “The opening of the station in Caerphilly gives us a real opportunity to engage with the public and provide a visible policing presence in Caerphilly town centre.
“It will allow for members of the public to engage face-to-face with our staff if they want to discuss a policing problem.”
Councillor James Pritchard, who represents Morgan Jones for Labour, campaigned for the new station.
He said: “It is brilliant to see this open. We campaigned strongly for a police station in the town – it was one of the biggest issues on the doorstep.
“We are very pleased that the PCC has reacted positively to that campaign.”
Caerphilly MP Wayne David also welcomed the new police station and said: “It is something the community has been campaigning for and it is wonderful that the PCC and the police have listened to the community.”
The town centre has been left without a permanent police station since the closure of Gwent Police’ s Market Street base in January 2016.
This facility needs to be open on weekends and in the evenings when most of the crime in Caerphilly occurs not during the weekday working hours when the town is relatively peaceful. Is the station there for the convenience of the officers or for the protection of the citizens?
I don’t think this a police station, it’s a talking shop
Vanity project, waste of money and much inferior to the 24 hour, fully manned, with custody cells police stations we have had for more than a century. Shamefull!
Another “smoke & mirrors” job by Gwent Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner.
This is not a proper police station – merely an office where the public can report issues or seek advice.
We will not see an increased visible presence of officers patrolling the town centre and nearby streets.
Time to stop wasting public money and give the public what they really want – more fully trained Police Constables on the beat.
Three Police Constables could be employed with the one salary of the Gwent Police and Crime Commissionaire, and how many more Police Officers could be taken on using with the money being wasted on the eye watering 17 members of staff employed to support this 1 person, an utter waste of tax payers money.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments.
The public in general must speak up – or put up with the abysmal service.
This is the second police shop, that has opened in town over the last 5 years, all this money gone to waste it. It seems Gwent constabulary likes wasting tax payers money
Let’s get one thing straight this is not a police station, as we used to know it, its a talking shop for people to bring their problems to a COmmunity police officer who has very little power. Also the cost of this talking shop is disgusting how can a referbishment cost £170,000, did thy have gold furnishing installed. Maybe Gwent police should contact X ray for being ripped off. A waste of money. we need contables on the beat, a police station in our town. Not plastic police and a pretend police station. Everything Gwent constabulary do these days is fake