🚨 Eyes in the Sky: Newport’s Crime-Busting Plane 🚨
Newport’s streets got an aerial watchdog earlier this month as a National Police Air Service plane circled the city for hours on 2nd September. The aim? To support our hard-working police officers on the ground by cracking down on illegal e-bikes and e-scooters. 🚴♂️✨
Temporary Chief Superintendent Jason White praised this modern approach to tackling crime, saying it had been used “to really good effect.” And with several “excellent arrests” made, it looks like the strategy is paying off! 👮♀️🔍
More than just a one-day stunt, the aerial surveillance continued to make an impact by helping officers identify where these illegal bikes were stored. This allowed them to swoop in and seize them later. 🏡⚠️
City council leader Cllr Dimitri Batrouni highlighted the positive feedback from residents, who have been concerned about hooded and masked youths intimidating locals. He said, “the use of aerial surveillance is making a real impact.” 🌆👥
Neighbourhood Inspector Roland Giles reassured us, saying, “we’re listening to your concerns.” The public is encouraged to report where they see these bikes being ridden or stored so that officers can take action. 🚨🚔
Got a tip about off-road bikes or any other community concerns? Reach out to Gwent Police directly via their website, by calling 101, or through social media. Want to stay anonymous? Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 📞🔎
Stay safe, Newport! 🌟🛡️