40 arrests made after police raids (From Barry And District News)

40 arrests made after police raids

MORE than 40 arrests were made when police raided pubs and clubs in the Vale in a safety crackdown.

Barry police, fire safety officers and Vale council licensing officers were all involved in the ninth Operation Arrowhead to check out licensed premises.

The aim is to make sure that local pubs and clubs are run well and are safe for the public to use - so that merrymakers can be confident of a fun and safe Christmas.

Checks range from whether fire precautions are adequate and fire exits clear to whether the doormen are trained to handle trouble correctly.

The arrests were made after executing search warrants and outstanding arrest warrants, and tracing many others suspected of criminal offences.

Head of the Barry operation Inspector Matthew Evans said: "We are not targeting specific places. We want to make sure that all the premises in the area are safe for the public to use. Those establishments that are well run have nothing to fear from our visits."

Superintendent Josh Jones, Divisional Commander for the Vale of Glamorgan, said "At this time of year more people than normal will be going out to enjoy themselves in licensed premises. They need to know that the doorstaff have been properly trained and vetted and are working in clubs and pubs that are well managed. We are working with our partners, the security industry and responsible licensees to reassure the public that they can enjoy themselves safely in well-run licensed premises."

Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Anthony Powell said: "The operation was worth while. This is an exercise to safeguard the public. This way we can ensure the public that the council will be doing their best to ensure their safety."