UP TO 20 police stations in Gwent could close and be replaced by mobile policing units by March 2011, a leaked document has revealed.

The proposals are being considered as part of Gwent Police’s re-provision programme, which aims to save money, improve and modernise the service.

A confidential document outlining the stations earmarked for possible closure was made public when it was uploaded onto Gwent Police’s website by mistake.

In Newport, police stations in Caerleon, Castleton, Duffryn and Llanmartin are under review, in Torfaen; Blaenavon, Garndiffaith and New Inn, in Blaenau Gwent; Blaina, Cwm, Llanhilleth and Rassau, in Monmouthshire; Gillwern, Raglan, Usk, Caldicot and Monmouth, and in the former Islwyn area, Abercarn, Cwmfelinfach, Newbridge and Oakdale.

Gwent Police are currently assessing how effective replacing the stations with a police presence in existing council-run one-stop shops and mobile police stations, visiting different areas at certain times, would be.

They would be run in partnership with local authorities and some site visits have already taken place, according to the document.

The report was discussed at a meeting of Gwent Police Authority’s audit and resources committee on October 15 and has since been removed from the force’s website.

A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said no decision had yet been made to close any stations and the proposals were still at an early stage - it is not yet known whether some or all the listed stations would be affected.

She said: "Residents should be reassured that our commitment to protect, reduce crime and increase public confidence remains at the heart of everything we do and the decisions we make."

Steffan Lewis, Plaid Cymru’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Islwyn, discovered the document on the internet.

He said: "I’m very concerned that the list of possible station closures has been drawn up in secrecy.

"I don’t want to get to a situation where future public consultation takes place but the decision to close is already a fait accompli."