Crime crackdown's 'staggering' results (From Barry And District News)

Crime crackdown's 'staggering' results

CRIME in the Romilly Park area has dropped dramatically after a police crackdown.

Officers joined forces with the Vale of Glamorgan Council and local residents to tackle the problem head on.

A year ago, police statistics showed that crime rates in the area were high at times when youths were using Romilly Park.

Offences ranged from public disorder and criminal damage to drug and alcohol abuse problems.

In response, the Crime and Disorder Partnership set a group consisting of Vale Police, youth liaison officers, the youth offending team, youth services and the Vale Council's head of visible services and head of the parks' department.

A highly visible police presence was deployed to the park and the crime rate has plummeted.

Statistics for the last 12 months show that reported crime in the Romilly Park area has decreased by 91 percent for theft from motor vehicles, 72 percent for incidents of youths causing a nuisance, 68 percent for criminal damage, 74 percent for drunkenness, 52 percent for reports of boy racers and 90 percent for all other types of incidents.

Inspector Geraint Evans told the News: "The results are staggering. Twelve months ago, an average of 150 young people were gathering at the park most evenings and weekends and committing criminal offences."

Miles Punter, head of visible services for the Vale Council, said: "The Crime and Disorder Partnership has greatly improved communication between the police and the council.

"This is a further example of us working together to reduce crime and disorder and in this particular case, a long standing problem of youth annoyance."

A local residents' group is being formed to assist with the future running of the park.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council hopes its long-term investment plan will result in Romilly Park being awarded Green Flag status.