Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay last week chaired a meeting to address public concerns over the crime wave which dominated Abergavenny recently.

The public meeting at Abergavenny’s Community Centre joined together representatives of the police, members of the public, and local councillors. Mr Ramsay had called for the meeting having received correspondence in recent months from local residents concerned about crime locally and the apparent lack of police response.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jeff Cuthbert, together with Inspector Damian Sowrey and Superintendent Dan Taylor represented the police on the panel and provided information and feedback to questions raised by the audience.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Ramsay said, “There have been a number of concerns in the town in the wake of the recent spate of high profile burglaries including the repeated break-ins at a local tobacconist and shocking petrol bombing of a burger van

“It’s important that the public had this opportunity to ask questions and our local police have the chance to reassure them.

“I would like to thank all those who attended the meeting. I hope that we will see some positive outcomes from our discussions and that the concerns that have been raised will be addressed as soon as possible.”

Following the meeting, Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert told the Chronicle, “I was pleased to attend last week’s meeting in Abergavenny at the request of local Assembly Member, Nick Ramsay.

“During the evening, we discussed a range of issues relating to crime and policing across both Abergavenny and the wider area.

“Following the meeting, we were thanked for our contribution and those in attendance seemed broadly happy with the information provided.”

The meeting came about following a vocal outcry amongst both the Abergavenny public, and its business community. A spate of break-ins to local businesses, including four raids on a local tobacconists, and a violent robbery which saw an 85-year-old man beaten by two now-jailed criminals.

Councillor Tudor Thomas, who attended the meeting, said the reality was that police numbers have fallen by almost a quarter in the last few years, laying the blame at Prime Minister Theresa May’s feet.