MIKE Tonge, the chief constable of Gwent, has a New Year's resolution for himself and his force - to give the public what it wants.

And what the public wants - according to the recent Argus crime survey - is more bobbies on the beat to tackle crimes that affect quality of life like youth anti-social behaviour.

To achieve this wish, Mr Tonge is introducing a neighbourhood policing approach in 2005 which means more officers on the streets.

He believes community police teams, led by station inspectors, will be able to gain the respect of neighbourhoods with the help of ward officers and police community support officers.

Mr Tonge said: "I get £98 million a year for policing in Gwent and I remind all my staff that we are public servants and it's what the public wants that matters.

"That is my mantra and New Year's resolution, to give the public what it wants."

He outlined the main points to neighbourhood policing: * Getting the public to know the names of local officers. * Visible patrols. * Galvanising the existing sense of community within Gwent. * Getting police community support officers (CSOs) to work in the neighbourhoods. * Regular police surgeries to be held at supermarkets and post offices. * Informing the public of current police work and goals.

He said from April all the new ward officers and police community support officers (CSOs) - totalling more than 150 extra officers - would be drafted in.

"It may take until September, but by then we want the communities of Gwent to know the name of their local police officer.

"By doing this it will improve confidence in the police and fear of crime, which blights so many lives, will go down.

"We are going to have sufficient mobile patrols to deal with the 999 calls but the rest of our staff will be in the neighbourhoods under the command of an inspector.

"Gwent already has strong communities and the neighbourhood police will get to know those communities.

"They will get to know the one or two who are the troublemakers who need anti-social behaviour orders and they will be able to build up relationships with youngsters and help them find things to do.

"If we win the confidence of the public we will get a lot more information about what is going on and then the sooner we can tackle the problems.

"Unless we are visible to the public, the public can be reluctant to come forward."

He said it was key to get other agencies like local authorities to help in supplying resources for youngsters so they had other options than hanging around on street corners.

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