Police station closure plan fears

Gwent Police says it is looking to make officers "more effective"

Some Gwent Police stations could close and be replaced with mobile units, it has emerged.

The force says it is looking at ways to "modernise" and provide "value for money".

One option being considered is to close a number of small stations and replace them with mobile stations, or "one-stop-shops," run with local councils.

Caerphilly council leader Lindsay Whittle said he was concerned and had written to Gwent's chief constable.

It comes after Plaid Cymru claimed it had seen an online list in police authority papers of stations in the area which could potentially close.

Residents should be reassured that our commitment to protect, reduce crime and increase public confidence remains at the heart of everything we do and the decisions we make Gwent Police

Mr Whittle said: "We cannot allow this to happen.

"People need to feel secure in their communities and closing stations will not help that. It is the elderly and vulnerable who will be affected most."

However, Gwent Police said the plans were only in the early stages and still being considered.

A spokeswoman said they did not have details of the number of potential station closures being looked at.

But the force insisted that no police services would be lost in communities and that no station would be closed unless a local alternative was put in place.

'No decisions'

In a statement, it said it wanted to make policing "more effective".

"In order to achieve this, one option currently being considered is the reprovision of small police outstations," it said.

"This means we are in the process of carrying out work to assess how effective the use of mobile police stations or one stop-shops, run in partnership with local authorities, would be as an alternative.

"No decisions have yet been made on how this will be progressed.

"Residents should be reassured that our commitment to protect, reduce crime and increase public confidence remains at the heart of everything we do and the decisions we make."

Gwent's neighbouring force, South Wales Police, recently closed Roath, Cathays, Canton and Grangetown police stations in Cardiff, although officers remain on the beat in the areas.

At the time, Gerry Toms, a former chief superintendent, who was based in Cardiff, said policing was changing, with the emphasis more on placing officers directly in the community, such as in shopping centres.