Policing the Vale of Glamorgan – by Inspector Mark Henderson:
How Operation Elstree made the Vale more family friendly
I am Mark Henderson – the Neighbourhood Inspector with the responsibility for neighbourhood policing matters in Barry and the Vale.
I would like to update you on the results of Operation Elstree, which was one of many policing operations that kept us busy over the summer.
Operation Elstree was a multi-agency operation aimed at keeping coastal areas safe and family friendly.
During the operation there were 1,000 extra hours of police foot patrol along the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan coastline. We arrested 23 people and confiscated alcohol which has helped prevent a repeat of the anti-social behaviour which we have seen in previous years.
In fact, anti-social behaviour has more than halved in the last two years, despite the number of visitors to our beaches returning to pre-pandemic levels this summer.
Another highlight of Operation Elstree was reuniting lost children with their parents on the beach. Losing sight of your children for a few seconds can really cause worry, so I’m glad our officers were in the right place at the right time this summer.
In response to concerns about drug dealing, the force’s Organised Crime Unit continues to patrol Barry in unmarked vehicles.
The unit recently arrested two men for drugs offences. One man was found to have drugs concealed in his underwear and a further four ounces of suspected cocaine was also found. From the second man, they seized more than £20k worth of Nitrous Oxide from a container lock-up – along with a high-value BMW car and quad bike.
More commonly known as laughing gas, nos, or chargers, Nitrous Oxide is sold in small silver canisters which are regularly found discarded in parks and open spaces. It has several legitimate uses but when inhaled, it can cause unconsciousness or death due to a lack of oxygen.
These are just two examples of how we rely on the information you, the public, give us and we urge anyone with suspicions or information about illegal drug supply to contact us.
Report online here.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
In an emergency, always call 999.
🌟 This article first appeared in the printed edition of the Glamorgan Star on 06.10.22.
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