Ogmore Valley Police Shackle Youth Annoyance in Operation Chain

13 ASBO referrals were given out across the Ogmore Valley from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd May after police held a targeted operation to crackdown on youth annoyance and underage drinking.

7 youths aged between 14 – 16 years old were apprehended by officers after being caught deliberating running in front of cars driving along Waun Wen Terrace in Nantymoel, causing cars to swerve to avoid a collision. After the youths received ASBO referrals their parents were immediately contacted.

A further two referrals were issued to male youths caught purposely riding their pedal cycles dangerously in front of a bus on North Rd in Ogmore Vale.

As part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Order process, the parents of the youths will receive letters from the Safer Bridgend Community Partnership informing them of their children’s actions. This process means youths are given chances to curb their behaviour before being issued a full ASBO.

Led by PC Gemma Tibbott, the pre-planned sting known as Operation Chain saw the Ogmore Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team, the Maesteg Neighbourhood Support Team and PC Kevin Ellis, Licensing Officer for Safer Bridgend, conduct high visibility reassurance patrols and visits from 7.00pm every night of the op.

PC Gemma Tibbott, Ogmore Valley Beat Manager said: “Through community consultation in PACT and pub watch meetings, a number of residents have voiced concern about underage drinking, as they believed it was a major factor behind youth annoyance around the valley.”

PC Ellis and the team visited 21 licensed premises and off licenses across Nantymoel, Ogmore Vale and Blackmill in a bid to inspect licensing compliance and to offer crime prevention advice to staff faced with underage customers. No offences of sales of alcohol to underage youths were detected.

One takeaway in Nantymoel received a warning notice after being caught supplying food and drink between 11.00pm and 5.00am without a premises license. The owner has received notification from the Safer Bridgend Community Partnership to apply for a license immediately. If caught trading illegally again the owner faces imprisonment or a fine up to £20,000.

PC Tibbott added: “One of our main aims was to prevent, disrupt, detect and deter underage drinking in and around our licensed premises, and to educate licensees. Over the course of the operation there were no reported incidents of antisocial behaviour.”

“Operation Chain has been a great success, and we would like to thank the local community for the information they have provided. We urge members of the public to continue reporting incidents of antisocial behaviour so that the local neighbourhood policing team can identify community concerns and address the matter accordingly.”