A NEWPORT community group is "taking Neighbour-hood Watch into the 21st century" by setting up its own think-tank to tackle anti-social behaviour and community safety.

The think-tank has been organised by Alway Community Association and it was due to hold its first meeting today.

David Jones, chairman of the community association, said: "We are setting up an initiative similar to Neighbourhood Watch, but taking it into the 21st century with a network of community safety co-ordinators.

"It won't just be watching other people's houses.

"I've got about 70 names of people who want an input, and we are trying to get the police, rangers and PCSOs (police community support officers) on board to reduce crime and disorder."

As a deprived area, Alway is eligible for Communities First funding from the Assembly, and this could be used for any suitable initiatives the estate's partnership comes up with.

PC Grant Taylor, Alway's crime and disorder reduction officer, will be attending the meeting with Inspector Mark Wheatstone.

He said: "They can give us information about where the anti-social behaviour hotspots are, so we can target our resources in the coming weeks.

"We have been pro-active about what was happening in the shopping centre, targeting young people congregat-ing in groups, shouting and swearing.

"But we have to be careful we don't just displace them 200 yards down someone else's street."

Alway councillor John Guy said: "We've had a Newport-wide initiative against stone-throwing at buses but Alway also gets anti-social behaviour."