NEIGHBOURHOOD policing officers will be making more visits to town and community councils, a councillor has said.
Ann Webb, who represents St Arvans in the Wye Valley, said she was “very grateful” for the neighbourhood policing team, based in Caldicot, that has responsibility for her “very rural ward”.
She told Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd the local sergeant had assured her officers will attend town and community council meetings.
“I’m always being asked about representation at meetings,” said the Conservative councillor: “He assured me it would be at least quarterly they will get attendance from an officer.”
Cllr Webb asked if officers appreciate the help elected councillors can provide and said following a “serious” incident in her ward she “blunted” by an officer.
“The officer was not interested and I was told to go away,” Cllr Webb said when Ms Mudd appeared before Monmouthshire County Council’s public services committee.
Ms Mudd, who as well as holding the directly elected post to oversee Gwent Police is a Labour councillor in Newport, said councillors hold intelligence that is important to police.
She said: “Nobody knows their communities as well as elected members whether that’s town and community council or local authority level.”
The police and crime commissioner also said she was “sure” a senior officer “would be happy to attend a county council meeting if you ask. If they’re available they will come along.”
She said she would raise Cllr Webb’s experience with the chief constable.
