Operation Raven nets 21 prisoners
In recent months Bridgend police has been mounting a successful concerted effort to address anti social behaviour and disorder in the town centre during the evening and night time.
As part of this activity a specially devised operation was run in the town centre last Saturday (March 20) under the name of Operation Raven.
Bridgend Community Safety Inspector Steve Rees said: “Operation Raven is part of a much larger long term partnership effort to reassure the public that Bridgend town centre is a safe place to visit at all times of the day. The Safer Bridgend Partnership is taking a long term approach to addressing the concerns raised by the public and this has already seen a marked reduction in crime and anti social behaviour and an improved experience for everyone who visits the town centre.
“A key priority for us is the safety and security of the public and businesses in the Bridgend late night economy environment. This has been echoed in public surveys and other engagement with the police and partners within Safer Bridgend.
“As a consequence a major partnership effort over the past few months has focused on the night-time economy in Bridgend. This has seen a significant reduction in town centre violence, especially over the Six Nations period where we have had very few weekend night-time economy related assaults reported.
“In recent months we have run a long term partnership operation working with licensees and other responsible authorities to bring about a complete shift in the way the late night economy environment is policed and managed.
“While it is still early days this change has been noticeable and significant. Policing activity since the New Year has seen a considerable amount of intelligence gathered and this was acted on during Operation Raven.”
Operation Raven involved some 80 police officers who acted upon intelligence led public order, drugs and licensing issues, working in partnership with licensees, Trading Standards, street pastors and other organisations.
During the operation two drugs warrants were executed in the Wildmill area which addressed a PACT priority; a test purchasing operation was run in Pencoed - also in response to PACT; a high visibility presence was maintained in the town centre with specialist teams visiting licensed premises to target drug dealers and licensing breaches. A drug itemiser machine was used as a condition of entry to licensed premises and drugs sniffer dogs were also deployed.
As a result of the operation 21 people were arrested for offences ranging from possession and supply of drugs, theft of a car, public order offences, burglary and arrests were made where door staff at both Codys and The York Bar assisted in identifying and detaining persons in possession of controlled drugs.
15 licensed premises were visited three of which were intelligence led enforcement visits and the vast majority of premises inspected were all correct and in order.
A positive Test Purchase exercise with Trading Standards took place in Pencoed in response to concerns raised about underage drinking which will lead to a prosecution.
With the full support of the licensees, a total of 375 people were swabbed for drugs as a condition of entry to three licensed premises - The York Bar, Codys, and Tair Pluen. This resulted in 22 positive tests for drugs.
There were 33 stop searches and six ‘Directions to Leave’ the town centre.
A number of licensed premises took on board suggested changes and recommendations which have made a significant difference to public order within the town centre.