Police Offer Different Sort of Gift at Valentine’s Market

Whilst other stall-holders pedalled tasty treats and romantic jewellery in honour of the saucy Roman saint, South Wales Police’s PCSO Steve Bowen of the Bridgend Neighbourhood Policing Team gave the best Valentine’s gift of all – free crime prevention tools and advice.

The stall was set up in Bridgend Bus Station on Friday 13th February, so plenty of passers-by going to and from the buses had the chance to hear handy crime prevention tips and grab a selection of safety freebies.

As well as giving away advice booklets, PCSO Bowen also handed out UV pens for marking property, defence alarms, security stickers for front windows, letter boxes and clothing, and following the success of South Wales Police’s Christmas operation, the ever-popular ‘Jingle-Bells’ for purses and wallets.

The free gifts went down a storm with shoppers, with one female customer saying how South Wales Police had been “a great help over the years”.

PCSO Bowen said: “Setting up a stall in the bus station has been a great way to chat to members of the public you might not normally see. The public response to the free gifts was brilliant, and most people took away goody bags for their friends and family.

“Although some of the gifts have a fun vibe, it’s important to remember that they carry a serious message. Educating the public on crime prevention is a key way to make Bridgend a safer place to live, and giving away stickers with messages on stashing car keys in a secure place and checking ID at your front door all helps to raise awareness.”