MORE power to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour is being given to community champions across Blaenau Gwent.

The Safer Blaenau Gwent partnership has awarded more than £30,000 to help people fight crime and combat disorder in their neighbourhoods.

The money - part of this year's £136,746 allocation from the Home Office's Building Safer Communities grant - will be used to fund a wide range of crime prevention and community safety schemes.

The county borough's four crime prevention panels - Abertillery, Brynmawr-Nantyglo-Blaina, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar - will benefit from £5,000 each.

And a further £5,000 has been earmarked to establish a Blaenau Gwent Neigh-bourhood Watch Association. An additional £7,000 has been allocated to create a community crime-fighting fund, enabling a variety of local groups to apply for much-needed finance to support projects that reduce or prevent crime and disorder.

Inspector Alan Webber, chairman of the Safer Blaenau Gwent Action Group, said: "Gwent Police recognise that there is only so much we can do as police officers and professionals to reduce crime and disorder and, without the community's support, we would be fighting a losing battle.

"By committing a significant share of the partnership's Home Office funding to help our community champions fight crime, we are sending out a clear message that people power and partnership working will win the day."

The four crime prevention panels agreed to use their funding to support Blaenau Gwent's first Crucial Crew experience for all Year 6 primary schoolchildren in the county borough this month.

Organised by Gwent Police schools liaison officers it will take place in Tredegar from October 20 to 24 and features ten interactive safety workshops provided by the emergency services - and workshops will focus on issues such as alcohol safety and road safety.

Other Safety Blaenau Gwent initiatives being funded by the Home Office grant this year include an arson reduction and awareness campaign involving schools and public transport.

Inspector Webber added: "Together with the £82,058 awarded to the police in Blaenau Gwent by the Home Office for proactive policing operations to tackle drug and alcohol-related crime and disorder, this represents an investment of nearly quarter of a million pounds in improving community safety."