At last night's partnerships and communities together meeting (pact) PC Steph Samuel called for community volunteers to join the student volunteering team in litter picks and crime prevention activities. She said:

"We had a really good bunch of students last year, some of which will be staying with us, but I would also like volunteers from the community to come forward in September."

PCSO David Lloyd also appealed for more Neighbourhood Watch coordinators to help keep the area safe and residents informed.

Lloyd said he'd met with the chair of the Neighbourhood Watch in the Gowerside area of Cathays Doug Bragg where he found the scheme was a success. He said:

"We're looking to revamp neighbourhood watch.

"I've met up with other coordinators and the feedback we're getting is good. The more ears and eyes we have out there the better we can police the area so we're looking to expand the scheme."

Alongside Sergeant Alun Williams, a new ringmaster electronic information scheme will be set in place to keep coordinators up to date with police news and advice for the area.

Cathays residents at the meeting were also told burglaries in the area had dropped by 25% in 2009/10 from the previous year.

The 'Shopwatch' scheme to encourage shop owners to help with clamping down on shop lifting was not being taken up by the community.

Residents were also informed of trading standards doing an assessment of the area for cold calling and more signs had gone up in the no drinking zones.

The next pact meeting will be on 23 August at the Crwys Rd Methodist Church as advertised on ourbobby.com.