Community Safety Team

Local authorities are one of five organisations with a statutory duty to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour, serious violence and substance misuse in Torfaen. 

The council’s Community Safety Team is part of the Torfaen Community Safety Partnership alongside police, health, probation and the fire service. The partnership co-ordinates local agencies to tackle issues like hate crimes, supporting victims, and provide preventative advice. 

As part of this, the team works closely with schools and the Youth Offending Service to identify young people at risk of getting into trouble to provide them with positive alternatives and support. 

Community Safety Hub 

The team chairs three-weekly meetings with the other council teams including the youth service, police, fire and ambulance services, registered social landlords, the Youth Offending Service and Victim Support to identify individuals or areas where anti-social behaviour is an issue. They also discuss solutions, such as positive interventions or closer working with partners in the local area. 

Positive Futures 

The Positive Futures programme uses sport and physical activity to engage young people between the ages of nine and 19 in communities with high levels of anti-social behaviour and deprivation.  

It aims to provide positive alternatives to substance misuse and anti-social behaviour, supporting young people's educational, personal, and social development through partnerships with organizations like Gwent Police and Sport Wales.   

Children and young people are referred to the programme by the community safety team.  

Prevention programmes 

Every year, the team receives funding for specific programmes, such as Uplift, which provides weightlifting classes to secondary school pupils at SSC gym, in Pontypool, and the Streetdoctors charity, which delivers a Reducing Violence Programme in schools. The team also works with Mentroar, which provides one-to-one mentoring.   

How to report concerns about a young person  

If you have concerns about a young person at risk of becoming involved in crime, anti-social behaviour, serious violence and substance misuse, speak to their school. 

The school will work with the Community Safety Team and police to identify solutions. 

Reporting anti-social behaviour  

Anti-social behaviour is categorised as conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harm, alarm or distress to a person. It can also include behaviour that can cause a nuisance or annoyance to people in their homes. 

Activities including children playing outside, minor neighbour disputes and badly parked cars are not considered to be anti-social behaviour.   

You can report anti-social behaviour to Gwent Police via 101 or online at www.gwent.police.uk.

You can also contact the Community Safety Team during office hours on communitysafetyteam@torfaen.gov.uk or 01495 762200. 

Or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.