RESIDENTS of a Torfaen village say a decision to move their locally based police officer will lead to an increase in crime.

New Inn residents also fear the move heralds the permanent closure of the local police station - currently being used by the Victim Support Unit while Pontypool police station is being refurbished.

But Inspector Christopher Dodd, who is responsible for the area, says there is no plan to close the New Inn station, and recent initiatives have increased crime detection. The community liaison officer who regularly patrolled New Inn, Griffithstown and Sebastopol and was a familiar sight on his bicycle, was moved to Pontypool recently.

Fred Marshall, chairman of the local Neighbourhood Watch, said: "We are all devastated by the withdrawal of this officer. The officer was holding regular surgeries and this will stop now.

"We are afraid the police station will not be re-opened. Crime will rise in this area." Mr Marshall, 75, of Clairwain, said the removal of the officer is also causing concern for the future of local neighbourhood watches.

He said: "We were hoping to get new watches, but we are now trying to keep them going because people are fed up with the changes."

Mike German, National Assembly member for South- East Wales, is supporting the residents.

He said: "I worry that this model for good community policing, which is the right way to reduce crime, is now lost. We cannot expect community watches to stay in place and support local communities when they don't have back-up of a local community police service. I hope the chief constable will look at the issue again and the concerns local people have."

But Inspector Dodd said: "My staff have been working hard for the last three months to tackle crime and disorder in the area. The number of patrol officers has increased to five and I have also given area responsibility to one of my sergeants. Far from having a negative impact this change of focus has significantly improved crime detection."