Penarth Policing Inspector, Andy Rice, updated Penarth Town Council on police matters in the local area.

He explained that there has been a jump in offences from January in 2020 vs. January in 2019.

However, the inspectors' main concern was found when comparing the rise in crime over the periods from April 2018-2019 to April 2019-2020.

Inspector Rice said: ''46 more offences have been recorded in this period. It is not a huge jump but it is a 4.6% rise in comparison to a 1% rise across the rest of the force. There is no pattern to these figures and no particular crimes rising specifically.

''The caveat to this is that Penarth crime is very low in comparison to other local areas. It only comprises 1% of overall crime recorded by the force.''

The Inspector talked in detail about recreational drug use in the area.

He explained that people could not be arrested for possession of cannabis. If they are a minor, then the police will often take them home and notify the parents.

The conditions that police are able to press charges is when someone is driving under the influence of drugs or if they are caught with intent to supply.

The police have recently held meetings with residents from Paget Road and Upper Penarth, who have raised issues of drug-taking in their locality.

This conversation went well and there has been an increased police presence in this area to try and deal with the situation.

They are also making plans to attend local secondary schools for a knife and drug amnesty session.

Cllr Fahy said: ''I attended the meeting at it was really productive.''

Cllr Mark Wilson then pressed the inspector for more information about criminal damage affecting traders.

He said: ''I am very concerned about this. There are discrepancies over CCTV and a discussion over who should pay for it: the council, police or another party. People want to feel safe and the technology CCTV wise has improved.

''People always believe there is more crime that there actually is but we do want this concern to be addressed.''

The inspector assured councillors that this was being acknowledge and dealt with, especially after the vandalism incident affecting businesses in Windsor Arcade over the festive period.

In terms of CCTV in the town, he said: ''Some of it works, some doesn't. There is an ongoing discussion on who should fund and monitor the cameras.''

When asked about the usefulness of the CCTV the Insp. Rice said: ''Don't get me wrong it's a really useful tool for prosecuting and cracking a crime but I am less sure about it preventing it.''

Advice is being distributed to local businesses on how they can help tackle the problem from the bottom up and questions are being raised about CCTV, which does not currently fall under the police units remit.

On a more positive note, South Wales Police will be receiving a boost of 150 extra officers in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan after the government announcement. He could not guarantee that this would result in an actual increase in police in Penarth but hoped that it would.

Cllr Yvonne Murphy asked for elaboration on this point. She asked whether the rise in police numbers would replenish the force to its highest level.

The Inspector explained that the addition of police officers would not return it to the highest levels they have seen as a force but the number will be close to it.

Approximately, 3400 police officers were recorded at the fullest South Wales Police force and now it will come closer to 3,150 after reaching lows of 2,800.

Finally, the structure of the South Wales Police force was discussed. Changes have been made so that the Vale of Glamorgan now falls under the Cardiff force rather than with Bridgend and further afield.

Inspector Andy Rice said: ''I am optimistic about the structural changes as we can hopefully tap into officers who normally work in Cardiff and ask for additional patrols when they are available.

''At the moment, there seems to be a line down the River Ely for resources but the changes should help that.