CHIEF Superintendent Kevin Price said: "As divisional commander for Newport I fully appreciate that emotions are running high following the tragic events of last week. Lemy Bullock was a well-known character in the Pill area and will be sadly missed.

"We have noticed that over the last four years issues have affected the community of Pill relating to drug trafficking and I gave a commitment four years ago that I would deploy resources to target those individuals and remove them from our streets."

He added they conducted Operation Corolla in 2003 dismantling a drug trafficking network that was a severe risk not only to Pill but also to Gwent. He added: "The fight did not stop then. The most recent events have shown significant police resources are directed into the Pill area to conduct the investigation and reassure the community.

"The community of Pill know that we are working hard to try to respond to these concerns but also appreciate we can't do this alone.

"I wish to reassure every resident of Pill that we will continue to commit resources to target those who stepped outside the law and make life intolerable."

Mr Price said senior police representatives would attend the public meeting and a series of meetings would be held with key community representatives.