Be A Nice Guy this Halloween and Bonfire Night

Neath Port Talbot Council will be clamping down on Anti-social Behaviour during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period.

The Council’s Waste Enforcement Team and Community Safety Team will be taking part in a joint campaign called Operation BANG, which stands for Be A Nice Guy. The Teams will be working in close partnership with South Wales Police and Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service to ensure events on both nights are not causing a nuisance to local residents.

The campaign was launched last weekend ahead of the Ospreys’ match against Connacht, where officers from all partners were on hand to speak with and gave out leaflets to people on around safety issues.

As part of the campaign, The Community Safety Team is leading on a spin off project known as BANG 2. The Team has engaged with the drama group at Sandfields Comprehensive School to deliver an interactive performance to local primary schools in the surrounding areas. The project aims to address the dangers around Anti-social Behaviour such as arson and egg throwing. The performance aims to deliver the messages to pupils through a more alternative approach.

In addition to this, the Waste Enforcement Team will be carrying out patrols again this year to further reduce the number of offences. Last year, the Team issued three £100 fixed penalties to people illegally disposing of commercial waste on bonfires.

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said, “There are a number of exciting events being held across the borough for both Halloween and Bonfire Night. Whilst we are encouraging people to go out and enjoy themselves, we are also asking that they do so responsibly and not at the risk of others.”

To keep up with Operation BANG campaign, follow @saferneathpt on Twitter and like the Safer Neath Port Talbot Facebook page.