South Wales Police increase patrols to target anti-social behaviour

In preparation for the busy October 31 to November 5 period, South Wales Police are urging residents to report any anti-social behaviour concerns as part of its Project Pinpoint campaign.

Halloween and Bonfire Night are among the busiest times for police, with last year’s control room receiving over 1,800 calls on Halloween and another 1,500 on Bonfire Night, many of which were related to anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Common issues reported include injuries and fires caused by improper firework use, vandalism such as egging and flour-throwing, and general disturbances within communities.

To ensure public safety, South Wales Police will deploy additional officers on both Halloween and Bonfire Night, with a command centre established to coordinate responses.

Chief Inspector Mark Brier said: “The late October and early November period is one of the busiest times of year for South Wales Police and its partners."

“While Halloween and Bonfire Night can provide lots of harmless fun for some people, for others it can be a source of distress and anxiety so it’s important that we are all considerate of each other."

“We are urging people through our Project Pinpoint campaign to report all their concerns about anti-social behaviour in their area because every report counts. The more information we have, the better we are able to take appropriate action to address peoples’ concerns and prevent problem areas from developing.”

In the lead-up to this period, police and fire services have worked with local authorities to remove fly-tipped waste from areas prone to ASB and hosted community events to educate residents on bonfire and firework safety.

The Project Pinpoint campaign encourages the public to report ASB concerns, enabling officers to respond effectively through community engagement, organising diversionary activities, or enforcing ASB measures as needed.

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