More police will be on the streets of Chepstow on weekends as the town which heads Monmouth-shire's violence league adjusts to new licensing laws.

Heddlu Gwent Police's force support group were out on Friday and Saturday, supplementing regular officers, with plans for their return over the next three weeks.

Between six and eight support group officers helped and will help patrol hot-spots between 11pm and 1.30pm, in an attempt to reduce the number of violent offences.

Specially-trained officers with a video camera will also be out in areas where trouble has flared in the past, Inspector Jim Walker of Chepstow Police told Chepstow Town Council.

Inspector Walker said that having more officers on the street would "inflate" the number of violent incidents recorded because they would note things that would not have been reported by the public.

Overall, crime is down so far this year compared with the same period in 2003, Inspector Walker said.

There were 925 crimes between April and November, 55 (5.6 per cent) fewer than the 980 in the same period in 2003.