Arriva Trains Wales | MINISTER OPENS NEW POLICE BASE AT PONTYPRIDD RAILWAY STATION

MINISTER OPENS NEW POLICE BASE AT PONTYPRIDD RAILWAY STATION

Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks officially opened a new police station at Pontypridd Railway Station, on Thursday 16 November.

The Minister, along with Assistant Chief Constable David McCall from British Transport Police, who has responsibility for Welsh Affairs, met with some of the new recruits in the area as part of Neighbourhood Policing.

The new police base at Pontypridd railway station is now fully operational, thanks to the initiative funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, Arriva Trains Wales and British Transport Police.

As part of the project a total of 21 police community support officers were recruited to roll out Neighbourhood Policing for Pontypridd, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Shrewsbury (covering mid Wales) and at Rhyl and Bangor (covering North Wales), with the aim to be more accessible and available to the local communities they serve.

Neighbourhood Policing involves extensive consultation with communities to determine policing priorities, finding out about the issues concerning local people and what is being done to address local crime and disorder. Police will be using drop-in surgeries, community and passenger forums, as a method to find out more information from the local communities.

The new police teams will patrol trains, stations and platforms to provide high visibility unformed presence, while at the same time becoming well known faces in the neighbourhood. They are working closely with partners including local authorities, businesses, health and education authorities, faith communities, youth offending teams, the fire service, local police forces and social services or residents' groups.

Some examples of recent policing in Pontypridd and the surrounding area:

Patrolling trains during busy school periods in Treorchy and Mountain Ash – the officers have been able to successfully reduce anti social behaviour
Working with local partners to crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Troed y Rhiw
Attending a safety and information day at Treorchy Comprehensive School, later that day the same PCSO's detained a man at Treforest for causing criminal damage on board a train

Andrew Davies said: “I am delighted to officially open this new station and meet with some of the 21 police community support officers who are already playing a significant role in improving the safety of rail passengers, employees and the wider community.’

‘This innovative project builds on our already substantial investment in the rail network across Wales; increasing capacity, opening new lines and stations and improving the safety and environment for over a million passengers who now choose to travel by train every month in Wales.’

Assistant Chief Constable David McCall from British Transport Police, said: “This is a positive and excellent example of partnership working on behalf of the communities we serve. Together, our aim is to identify and resolve local priorities, through neighbourhood Policing we can adopt a longer-term problem solving approach and tackling the root cause of issues.

“High on the agenda for the police will be reassuring passengers through tackling anti social behaviour such as low level disorder that increases the fear and perception of crime.”

Bob Holland, Managing Director of Arriva Trains Wales, said: “Providing a safe and secure travelling environment for our customers and employees is a key priority for the company. Investing in Police Community Support Officers is one of a number of ways that we are working to improve security at stations and on board our trains.

“The new officers are providing valuable support to community volunteers who have ‘adopted’ local railway stations under our ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme. Station adopters help us by keeping their local station manager informed of any issues of concern. By providing direct access to British Transport Police, the officers are helping to further strengthen links with the communities that we serve.”

British Transport Police Inspector Barry Dalby also received an award at the ceremony for his commitment and work towards Crimestoppers and Neighbourhood Policing.