Gwent PCC highlights grassroots football league as a tool for community safety and youth engagement

Jane Mudd, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, praises the StreetSoc eight-a-side football league for fostering community cohesion, promoting healthy lifestyles, and providing positive alternatives to antisocial behaviour amid her broader crime prevention initiatives.

The StreetSoc eight-a-side football league, organised by the Bengal Dragons Foundation and recently concluding at Pill Millennium Centre, crowned Scorpions FC as champions. Beyond the competition, the league’s core mission is to foster healthy lifestyles, unify diverse communities, and provide young people with positive alternatives to antisocial behaviour. The initiative has garnered attention for its grassroots impact on community cohesion and youth engagement through the shared passion of football.

Jane Mudd, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Gwent and sponsor of this year’s StreetSoc league, highlighted the league’s significance in promoting community well-being. Speaking about the tournament, she praised the competitive spirit and dedication of the participating teams, especially the winners Scorpions FC. According to Mudd, initiatives like StreetSoc represent crucial grassroots efforts that help nurture community ties and encourage healthy, fun competition among young people.

Mudd’s role as PCC, which she began in May 2024 as the first woman to hold the post in Gwent, is shaped by her broader priorities of preventing crime and antisocial behaviour, making communities safer, and protecting vulnerable populations. With two decades of experience in higher education and research, particularly in housing and regeneration, she brings a nuanced understanding of social issues influencing public safety. She co-chairs the Wales Safer Communities Board and leads on substance misuse issues, reinforcing her commitment to holistic community safety.

Since taking office, Mudd has announced significant community safety investments, including a £4 million funding package over four years aimed at bolstering protection for women and girls, supporting vulnerable young people, and tackling the root causes of crime. Her vision emphasises the importance of visible policing and building trust between police and residents, aligning well with the ethos behind StreetSoc’s community-centred approach.

Additionally, Mudd has launched a Public Accountability Forum designed to give Gwent residents a direct voice in policing decisions. This forum enhances transparency and helps ensure that policing strategies reflect the community’s needs, fostering greater trust in law enforcement.

StreetSoc’s alignment with the PCC’s wider strategy highlights how sport and community initiatives can serve as practical tools in crime prevention and community building. By encouraging positive engagement and offering alternatives to antisocial behaviour, such grassroots programmes complement formal policing efforts and investment plans geared towards safer and more inclusive communities.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The event described took place recently, and the involvement of Jane Mudd as the newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, sworn into office on 8 May 2024, adds to the freshness. ([gwent.pcc.police.uk](https://www.gwent.pcc.police.uk/en/news-room/first-female-police-and-crime-commissioner-for-gwent-sworn-into-office/?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The quotes attributed to Jane Mudd are consistent with her known public statements and positions. No discrepancies or variations in wording were found, suggesting the quotes are accurately reported.

Source reliability

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative originates from the South Wales Argus, a regional newspaper. While it is a reputable source, it is not as widely recognised as national outlets like the BBC or Reuters. The involvement of Jane Mudd, a public figure with verifiable credentials, adds credibility to the report. ([gwent.pcc.police.uk](https://www.gwent.pcc.police.uk/en/about-us/police-and-crime-commissioner/?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with known facts. The StreetSoc league’s mission to tackle antisocial behaviour through football is consistent with community initiatives. Jane Mudd’s involvement as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, with a focus on community safety, supports the narrative’s credibility. ([gwent.pcc.police.uk](https://www.gwent.pcc.police.uk/en/about-us/police-and-crime-commissioner/?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is original and fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The quotes are accurate and consistent with Jane Mudd’s known public statements. The source, South Wales Argus, is a reputable regional newspaper, and the involvement of Jane Mudd, a verifiable public figure, adds credibility. The claims made are plausible and align with known facts, supporting the overall assessment of ‘PASS’ with high confidence.