GWENT Police spent more than £13,000 on cardboard cut-outs of one of their officers in an attempt to reduce thefts from shops.

Information obtained through a Freedom of Information request show that each cut-out cost £255 and the police ordered 52 of them over two years.

The 7ft image of Newport PC Rhydian Jones, with a message to deter criminals stealing from stores, was first introduced in November 2011 with the last one being produced in March.

In total they cost £13,260.

A Gwent Police spokesman said: “They have been distributed throughout our force area and teams use them tactically to deter shoplifting.

"We are not prepared to say where they are at this moment as they are often moved about to tackle a particular problem.”

One is being used in the Co-Operative store in North Road, Croesyceiliog.

The store's manager Lee Hillier said it had been used there for about three months and he felt it had reduced crime.

He said: “It’s right by the front of the door and people look up at it as they walk into the store.”

Hannah Shingler, a sales assistant at the Co-Operative store in Somerton where there is another cut-out, said: “I think it’s reduced crime a little bit. I think there would be more if it wasn’t there.”

And PC John Cottrell, a member of the local policing team in Upper Cwmbran, said the two cardboard cut-outs being used in his area had been successful in deterring potential thieves.

He said: “I wish we could have 52 of them.”

The cut-outs were produced by Pontypool-based MWL Print Group, who did not wish to comment.

Their first purchase was sanctioned by Detective Superintendent Ian Roberts, who in 2011 was the force lead on volume crime, but has since left that position.

Other police forces across the UK have adopted cardboard cut-outs schemes. Berkshire Police ordered two of them in June.

The cut-outs were introduced when Gwent Police found shoplifting was increasing as other crimes were falling.

They are being used as part of their Operation Arcade scheme.