Report crimes

AS PART of the Ebbw Vale and Tredegar Crime Prevention Panel, I recently attended a meeting at a local estate. Many estates not just in Ebbw Vale and Tredegar have problems, the problems are countrywide. Areas are finding that their previous safe and happy communities are plagued by criminal damage, drug related offences and anti-social behaviours, to name but a few. Time and time again we hear “there’s no point in contacting the police – nothing gets done”. Well, nothing will get done if no-one but your neighbours, family and friends know about it. Our policing system cannot act on problems unless they have evidence. They cannot ask courts to bring people to account if they have nothing but hearsay to back up their request. Report a problem – report it to the police, report it to your housing association, speak to your local councillor, even tell your MP. Don’t just tell your friends and neighbours, and make sure that your complaint is logged. We all know that the wheels of justice turn slowly, but give the authorities the ammunition they need to help solve these problems and they’ll turn a bit faster. We all want to get back to caring communities. This can’t be a single person crusade – we all need to get involved.