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Levels of antisocial behaviour in Bettws have improved, but the community still wants tougher rules for troublemakers, a councillor for the neighbourhood has said.

Cllr Kevin Whitehead said there had been a “lull” in bad behaviour, but said locals were “fearful at any time it could kick off again”.

He repeated calls for a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the estate, which would give officers more powers to move on offenders and issue fines.

“Can we be reassured that it will in no way deter our application for a PSPO?” he asked Gwent Police superintendent Jason White at a council meeting on Tuesday. “People are fearful that because it’s calm at the minute, they won’t grant us that PSPO and the things we’ve been building.”

Supt White welcomed the drop in incidents, and said it was “down to better ways of working with our partners”.

But he urged the community to be “mindful” that most of the people involved in antisocial behaviour around the area known as Bettws Shops were “children aged 12 to 13”.

“I say that because when we talk about PSPOs, ultimately they have to be enforced,” Supt White explained. “I would be interested to see the proposals… and whether or not they’re suitable and we’re able to fulfil them. The last thing I’d want to do is to not do what we’re telling people we’ll do.”

“I don’t consider this to be a lull,” he added. “I think this is the start of a downward trend in antisocial behaviour in the Bettws area.”

The city council recently renewed three PSPOs for other parts of Newport – in the city centre, Maesglas and Pill.

They grant council officers powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, especially around issues such as street drinking, the illegal use of e-scooters and any actions deemed likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Offenders can be moved along from the PSPO area, or issued with on-the-spot fines for some offences.

More serious breaches of an order could mean a magistrates’ court appearance and the prospect of a much higher fine.