GWENT Police joined forces with Tredegar Rugby Club to host an initiative to make social venues in Blaenau Gwent aware of acid attack kits.

The rollout means that people will have access to the equipment should an incident occur, allowing the provision of immediate first aid until the emergency services arrive.

Around 50 people attended the launch, including licence holders, representatives from Tredegar Town Council, Tredegar/Ebbw Vale and Blaina Crime Prevention Panels, BGCBC Licensing team, Police Officers and Ward Councillors Haydn Trollope, Tommy Smith and Malcolm Cross.

Police Inspector Amanda Thomas presented the group with information and the Welsh Ambulance Service gave detailed instructions on how to use the kit. Each kit contains personal protective equipment, bottles of water, bandages, chemical gloves, face masks and safety goggles.

South Wales Argus:

Councillor Haydn Trollope of the Tredegar Central West Ward, said: “We are very pleased to support this initiative and help keep the people of Blaenau Gwent safe. There has never been an acid attack in our area and we hope there will never be a time when this kit will be used.”

19 kits have already been bought by a number of licensees, six have been funded by Blaenau Gwent CBC and Gwent Police, plus a further six funded by Town Councils in Brynmawr, Tredegar and Crime Prevention Panels.

The kits can be purchased at a cost of £59.99p (product code BU/201) from the SP Services website

www.spservices.co.uk