A POLICE chief pledged to cut crime in the Valleys, and promised: "I'll put more officers on your streets."

Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston will head the new police division created in a controversial merger between the divisions of Ebbw Vale (E) and Caerphilly (C) in April this year.

The proposal met with widespread condemnation from councillors on both Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent councils.

They feared it would lead to station closures and police being spread too thinly across the division.

But the councils have received cast-iron reassurance that all current stations will remain open.

And last night Chief Superintendent Johnston promised locals would see more police on their streets as well.

"There will be more foot patrols and more officers where the public will be able to see them," he said.

"We will be working closely with community leaders to address the issues which the public continue to bring to us.

"Hopefully in 12 months' time the public will agree we will be providing a better service and serving their expectations. There is a danger we will provide what we think the public want, but they have been telling us for a while they want us to address the low- level crime which affects their lives."

Caerphilly council leader Lindsay Whittle said: "The two borough councils were against the merger. However, the decision has now been made and I would prefer to put that behind us and move forward.

"Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston is a tough-talking cop, which is just what we need in the borough to tackle crime and the fear of crime, and I'm looking forward to working with him."

Although the merger is not due officially to take place until November, with the establishment of divisional headquarters at Blackwood police station, in operational terms it has already begun.

The traffic section has relocated from Blackwood to Tredegar police station, bringing with it one sergeant and 12 police constables.

Savings of more than £250,000 through administration cuts have freed up enough finance to employ six extra officers in the new police division.

In each station, a crime and disorder prevention officer has been promised, in addition to a field intelligence officer. Another new development will be the appointment of six new school liaison officers.

More officers on the beat have also been promised through a new policy of allowing only one officer to ride in a patrol car, apart from in extreme circumstances.