Gwent Police heads up multi-agency operation to tackle landscape crime

Officers from Gwent Police teamed up with local partners to tackle a wide range of ‘landscape’ crimes such as fly-tipping, the illegal use of off-road vehicles and vehicle and scrap metal thefts during a one-day operation last month.

Gwent Police worked with local councils in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Monmouthshire and Rhondda Cynon Taff, as well as the Forestry Commission, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and the Treadlightly Trust to enforce laws that protect the Blaenavon World Heritage Site and its surroundings.

The operation covered a large area of countryside from Brynmawr down to Abertillery and Cwmtillery over into Monmouthshire around Clydach and right down to the Blaenavon and Pontypool areas of Torfaen.

PC Rob Maddocks, who organised the operation, is seconded as the landscapes crime officer to specifically tackle problems in the project area following concerns raised by local residents and walkers about the illegal use of off-road vehicles, fly-tipping and grass fires.

He said: “My role is to raise awareness of landscape crime as well as tackling offenders. Many members of the public don’t fully understand the law in relation to off-road vehicles. The operation was to educate members of public about the law and give them a chance to change their actions. Anyone found driving illegally in these areas in the future will be dealt with.”

The successful campaign saw:

•six section 59 warnings issued;

•42 verbal warnings and educational leaflets given out; and

•24 new fly-tipping sites identified and referred for clean-up operations.

PC Maddocks added: “We will continue to carry out operations such as this on a regular basis to bring offenders to justice and improve the local area for residents and visitors to this beautiful part of the world.”

The Treadlightly Trust, a charity that sets out to protect motorised recreational access opportunities through education, partnership working and conservation initiatives, welcomed the initiative.

Duncan Green, chairman of the Treadlightly Trust, said: “Multi-agency working is key to reducing illegal off-road vehicles and helping people understand how and where they can use their vehicles responsibly.”