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Chair of Neath Port Talbot BCRP wins MBE in New Year honours
In what is believed to be a first for a BCRP, Chris Morgan, 36, from Neath, who was chair of Safer Neath Port Talbot BCRP from 2005 until November 2009 has been awarded with an MBE in recognition of his work in helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in and around the Aberafan shopping centre. Working with the ambulance service he also helped recruit and train more than 40 first responders to deal with medical emergencies in Port Talbot. Chris, who previously served for 12 years with the Royal Navy, said it was the proudest day of his career. He began work at the shopping centre in 2003 and was promoted to security manger the following year. The complex has won several national awards for providing a safe and secure environment for visitors, tenants and staff.
A father of three, Chris has also worked with the local young offenders team to tackle shoplifting. "I talk to them and explain how their behaviour has a negative impact on the town and how their offences affect the businesses and the people who work there," he explained.
The improvements he and his team have made at the shopping centre included tackling anti-social behaviour in conjunction with the police. “I think the figures at the time reflected an 80%reduction in anti-social behaviour in and around the town centre".
The initiative saw Chris awarded with a Home Office 'Take a Stand' award by David Blunkett in 2003. He was recently promoted to become operations manager for the majority of contracts run by the OCS Group in south Wales, not just at Aberafan.
He said of the award: "It was a total shock. I was in the Royal Navy and served my country for 12 years but this is the proudest moment for myself professionally. I'm over the moon."
30 July 2010