The Garw Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team have once again been busy putting the brakes on speeding drivers in Pontycymmer and Blaengarw.
From Thursday 16th – Saturday 18th July, officers conducted a three-day sting known as Operation Cloister, with PC Chris Thomas and PCSOs Janine Ireland and Richard Hopkins hitting the streets with a specialist speed laser device to detect the speed of passing vehicles.
The clampdown follows on from the success of Operation Gill which ran in May, and again targeted the A4064 (Cuckoo Street) between Pontyrhyl and Pantygog, Bridgend Road in Blaengarw, and Bridge Street and Victoria Street in Pontycymmer after residents voiced concern about these areas in the local PACT meeting.
Altogether, three fixed penalty notices were issued, with three drivers being caught travelling at 40mph, 41mph, 43mph in a 30mph zone. 12 warning notices were given, 19 stop searches were conducted, and 4 antisocial behaviour referrals were submitted to the Safer Bridgend Community Partnership following the operation.
Every person stopped and spoken to during Operation Cloister was informed that the operation was being conducted as a result of PACT and in response to community concerns and intelligence. Crime prevention advice was also given.
PC Chris Thomas, the Neighbour Beat Manager for Blaengarw and Pontycymmer who led the operation said: “After the success of Operation Gill in May, we were determined to continue our proactive patrols to make the roads safer for everyone to use. In total, 200 vehicles were monitored over the three days, and with just 3 fixed penalty notices and 12 warning notices being issued, it’s clear that drivers are getting the message.”