GWENT Police should remain at a refurbished Cwmbran headquarters, according to the region’s police and crime commissioner.

This is despite estimates in 2011 which said refurbishing could cost £26.3 million over 20 years - at least £6 million more than the cost of moving.

No final decisions have been made and Mr Johnston told the Argus yesterday that there was no clear idea of how much staying would cost.

A statement from Mr Johnston stated said his “preference is to remain at the current headquarters site and invest in its refurbishment to provide another 40 years of service to the communities of Gwent.”

He said this was based on feedback and “coupled with my own belief in the vital role this building plays in the DNA of Gwent Police”.

The PCC said a lot of work had been undertaken in developing what options are available and more was needed before a final decision, with a “more definitive position” including costs expected to be announced before Christmas.

Mr Johnston told the Argus said: “I think the business case thus far does not take into account the history of Gwent Police and what it [the building] means to the very fabric of what Gwent Police is.”

However, he said that plan was still under serious consideration.

Colin Mann, a Plaid Cymru Caerphilly councillor who serves on the Gwent Police and Crime Panel, said rental costs can be very expensive.

“It would be interesting in seeing figures,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PCC told BBC Radio Wales that he would scrap Police and Communities Together (PACT) meetings – where residents can meet community support officers – where he said councillors were "losing the will to live".

On the BBC phone-in, Mr Johnston said that PACT process in Gwent is “going” with the meetings not working as they should.

He described how community support officers would run presentations at the meetings on what problems needed to be tackled, but said they were often the same every six months.

“Councillors have lost the will to live, they don’t go anymore,” he said.

“It cannot continue with community support officers going. You’ve got to have police officers there." It’s not beyond the wit of the sergeant or the local inspector to attend these meetings, listen to what the community want and then take action.”