REPRESENTATIVES from Gwent Police, Newport City Council and the National Crime Agency were at Newport’s Celtic Manor yesterday for the official launch of the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy in Wales.
Today, Gwent Police Chief Constable Julian Williams alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert joined The UK Minister for National Security and Economic Crime, Ben Wallace as he launched the strategy.
Chief Constable Williams spoke of how the rollout of the new strategy is hoped to build upon the “fabulous successes” Gwent Police has achieved in tackling serious and organised crime (SOC).
“It takes a huge amount of resources,” he said.
“In the last 12 months we have undertaken 163 SOC arrests, seized around £600,000, 50 high-value vehicles and hundreds of kilos of class A and B drugs.
“We know SOC is big business but being pro-active is key.
"We can’t be complacent.”
The aims of the initiative include protecting communities from the threat of serious and organised crime and builds upon successful collaboration between law enforcement, charities and the Welsh and UK governments.
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Leader of Newport City Council Debbie Wilcox said: “Newport City Council, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Natural Resources Wales and South Wales Fire Service are also all involved.
“Successful partnerships are based on a mutual respect.”
During the event, key speakers highlighted the threat of SOC and demonstrate how trailblazing early intervention work in Wales is diverting young people away from being drawn into it.
According to the National Crime Agency, there are around 4,600 SOC groups in the UK. These criminals use violence and intimidation in communities to operate and prey on the most vulnerable in society, from victims of modern slavery and human trafficking to young people suffering sexual exploitation and abuse.
Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert said: “Serious and organised crime affects all communities across Wales and no single agency can resolve this problem on its own.
“To tackle it we need police, businesses, local authorities, the NHS, the third sector, schools and residents to work together.
"We need focused early intervention.
“We are doing some trailblazing work here in Gwent that is already making a difference within our communities and I am confident that we can learn from this success and replicate it across Wales.”
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