FIVE Gwent police stations could close if police authority members give the go ahead to proposals aimed to save money and modernise the police service in the community.

A report into the re-provision of neighbourhood police stations in Gwent is set to be discussed by Gwent Police Authority members tomorrow.

The report proposes closing stations in Blaenavon, Cwmfelinfach, Fairwater in Cwmbran, New Inn and Trevethin.

The report states that none of the stations have published opening hours and are only open to the public when an officer is at the station completing administration work.

Fairwater Police Station has been closed to the public since April 2009.

Under the proposals, services for Blaenavon would be provided through shared premises with Melin Homes in Blaenavon town centre and Trevethin officers would share premises a the new Life Station Community Building. Services in Fairwater, New Inn and Cwmfelinfach would be provided through police surgeries, Partnership and Communities Together meetings and mobile police stations.

The Police Federation currently share facilities with police at the New Inn station, but if the proposals go ahead, the federation would be re-located and the New Inn station would be sold, along with the station in Fairwater.

The plans form part of the force's re-provision scheme which aims to save money, improve and modernise the service in the community.

The report focuses on the second tranche of closures, the first of which related to stations in Abercarn, Oakdale, Duffryn and Malpas.

Over the next two years the force is reviewing all neighbourhood police station through a rolling programme.