GWENT Police say they will monitor crime levels in areas of Newport where every other street light could be turned off.

Newport council plans to switch off 9,000 of its 18,500 streetlights, with the exception of those in the city centre shopping area, from 10pm to 6am to save money.

The proposals raised concerns among Labour councillors who said they were worried it could increase antisocial behaviour.

But a spokeswoman for Gwent Police said research showed crime and anti social behaviour was continuing to fall in other Gwent areas where street lighting had been reduced.

She said areas where streetlighting is changed would be monitored by the Safer Communities Partnership who would look at the impact in a bid to continue its work in driving down crime.

The move proposed by the city council could save the authority around £200,000 a year as well as cutting its carbon footprint.

The proposals would also mean that a scheme where streetlights on 37 roads and industrial areas are switched off between midnight and 5.30am, implemented last year, would be scrapped following concerns from residents about the total darkness caused by switching the lights off entirely.

The plans are currently out to consultation with councillors.