🚨 Gwent Police’s Tuk-Tuk Tale 🚨
Ever heard of tuk-tuks cruising around the UK? Well, Gwent Police certainly thought outside the box! Back in 2022, they splashed out £34,300 on four tuk-tuks, hoping to create “safe spaces” in Newport and Abergavenny. Fast forward two years, and those iconic, buzzing vehicles were sold at a significant loss, fetching only £5,950.
The tuk-tuks were initially funded by the Home Office’s Safer Streets initiative, aiming to bolster community safety in unique ways. With a whopping £673,181 given to Gwent Police, they focused on reducing crime, particularly against women and girls, and curbing anti-social behaviour across towns like Caerphilly, Newport, and more.
Speaking about the sale, a Gwent Police spokesperson admitted that while the resale value was lower than hoped, it was challenging to predict how much they’d get back for these no-longer-needed vehicles. It’s a dilemma anyone who’s tried selling a vehicle might understand!
Conservative councillor William Routley, however, isn’t as understanding, calling the situation “truly unbelievable”. He quipped, “The public have been royally ‘tuk-tuk’d’ by the seams of it.”
Despite the tuk-tuks’ financial bust, other facets of the Safer Streets funding have seen success, like improved security in 35 schools and nearly £1 million spent on courses tackling violence against women. 🚓 #GwentPolice #TukTuk #SaferStreets #CommunitySafety #UKNews