Sgt Darren Jacks says the public have welcomed them

Since that hot summer evening in June, community leaders and residents have rallied round to try and improve the image of Caia Park.

Now a new team of community beat managers, using the latest technology, are set to tackle the estate's lasting problems.

Sergeant Darren Jacks and five community beat officers will regularly monitor the area.

"We've talked to members of the public and what they want is a visible police presence down here," said Sgt Jacks.

Since the incident....we are seeing the police around David Rimmer Afon Tenants Association

"They want to see the bobby on the beat and also we want to be in touch with them, we don't want to be driving around in cars all the time, we want to be accessible.

"We're breaking down walls, we're making contact.

"If you go for a walk on any day you can probably speak to about 30 or 40 people."

"Yes we want to prevent crime but we want to persuade people that it's not a bad place to live," he added.

"We've had a lot of feedback from people saying they've regained a lot of trust in the police," said community beat officer Luke Edwards Hughes.

Residents view

However David Rimmer from the Afon Tenants Association said many residents fear the action has come to late.

"It got to the point that they used to call them UFO's - unidentified officers and the police car was known as a novelty car," he said.

"Since the incident....we are seeing the police around."

The police officers have been issued with hand-held computers to enable them to spend more time on the estate.