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Welcome to the latest edition of my bulletin that highlights some of the activities that I was involved in during June.

It was a busy month once again, and the highlight for me, no doubt, was the Knife Angel visit to Aberystwyth for the month. As noted in my last bulletin, this is the second time that I have bought the Angel to the Dyfed-Powys area.

The iconic sculpture - commissioned by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire and created by artist Alfie Bradley – was on display in the town until 29 June 2022, and I was pleased to be able to acknowledge and thank all the partners that supported us during the month in a closing ceremony at the end of the month.

You can read more about the Knife Angel’s visit to Aberystwyth below.

Other key moments for me during June were;

• HMICFRS’ report that confirms that Dyfed-Powys Police has improved in almost all aspects of crime recording over the last twelve months;

• An open doors event for local stakeholders in Dafen, Llanelli at the construction site of the new Custody Suite and Policing Hub for Carmarthenshire;

• Launching a recruitment campaign for my Youth Forum and a Consultation with young people;

• Spending time shadowing the work of some of my Independent Custody Visitors during Volunteers Week.

You can read about all the above below and by following the links.

Thank you once again for taking time to read my bulletin. Please feel free to share wider, and if you have any questions, you are welcome to contact my Office.

Diolch yn fawr,

Dafydd Llywelyn

Police and Crime Commissioner

Celebrating impact of Anti-Violence campaign in Aberystwyth during Knife Angel Closing Ceremony

On Wednesday 29 June 2022, community representatives, local partners and the authorities came together to celebrate the impact of the Knife Angel’s visit to Aberystwyth during June, in a closing ceremony held at Canolfan Arad Goch.

Working alongside Dyfed-Powys Police, Aberystwyth Town Council and Ceredigion County Council I ensured that the Knife Angel was bought to Llys y Brenin square, Aberystwyth at the beginning of June, where it stood for four weeks as a physical reminder of the effects of violence and aggression.

Key prevention, anti-violence and anti-aggression messages have been shared with the local community during the month through a programme of various educational and awareness workshops run by my Office, Dyfed-Powys Police and local organisations and charities.

The Knife Angel is a reminder of the devastating impact of knife crime, and any form of violence and aggression has on families and communities. The feedback has been fantastic, and it was great to be able to acknowledge and thank all partners who have supported us during the month at the closing ceremony, and present them each with a certificate.

Inspectorate report acknowledges improvements made by Dyfed-Powys Police

I was pleased earlier this month to read Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)’s report that confirms that Dyfed-Powys Police has improved in almost all aspects of crime recording over the last twelve months.

In May 2021, HMICFRS issued the Force with a cause of concern and made three urgent recommendations.

HMICFRS revisited Dyfed-Powys Police in 2022 and found that the force had made good progress against these recommendations.

Over the last year, I have ensured there is thorough and sufficient scrutiny, and it is extremely pleasing that the improvements made by Dyfed-Powys Police have been acknowledged and recognised by HMICFRS, which has resulted in the discharge of cause of concern.

It is important to note that there are still some improvements to be made, however, the Force is heading in the right direction. I now look forward to working closely with the Chief Officers to ensure we have an effective and efficient policing service that responds to the needs and expectations of our communities, and that we focus on placing victims at the heart of Dyfed-Powys Police.

Local Llanelli Community Representatives welcomed to Construction Site of new Carmarthenshire Policing Hub and Custody Suite

On the 24th of June I hosted an open doors event for local stakeholders at Dyfed-Powys’ new Custody Suite and Policing Hub, that is currently under construction at Dafen, Llanelli Carmarthenshire.

Planning permission was granted to us by Carmarthenshire County Council back in April 2021 for the proposed development, which is to be an ambitious sustainable construction, with a BREEAM excellence rating.

Wilmott Dixon, who are the Construction Contractor have been on site since autumn preparing for the first construction phases, with specific progress now beginning made on the development, that aims to be completed by May 2023.

This is a major investment for us which will see an ambitious, modern, sustainable fit for purpose policing hub and custody suite that will meet the needs and expectations of modern policing.

During the planning application process between 2020 and 2021, we engaged widely with the local community, and It was a pleasure to open the door, and welcome local community representatives to the construction site today, to show the progress that has been made to date.

Young People urged to have their say on policing matters, and encouraged to become members of Dyfed-Powys Youth Forum

In June I launched a recruitment campaign to recruit additional members to my Youth Forum. I am keen to recruit young people aged between 14 and 25 years old from Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys, to join my Youth Forum to ensure that I have at least one member from each of the 14 Neighbourhood Policing Team areas in Dyfed-Powys.

The Forum was originally established in 2018, and I want to build on the successful work of the Forum to date, to ensure that Dyfed-Powys has a Forum of Youth Ambassadors who are ready to influence and challenge decision-making, to ensure that the communities of Dyfed-Powys have a Police Force that successfully safeguard children and young people and promote their wellbeing.

As part of the recruitment campaign, I have launched a youth survey to better understand young people’s perception of policing in their area. The survey findings will help identify three priority areas for the Youth Forum to focus on for 2022/23.

Closing date for applications is Monday 9th of August. All information and links can be downloaded from our website.

Meeting with Independent Custody Visitors at Aberystwyth Custody Suite as part of volunteers’ week

Between the 1st and 7th of June it was national Volunteers week, and during the week, I linked up with some of my volunteers in Aberystwyth, who volunteer as Independent Custody Visitors.

Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are volunteers from the local community who visit police custody suites in pairs, unannounced, to check on the welfare of detainees and to ensure that their rights are upheld.

The volunteers then report any issues, if any, through a report to my Office, and these are looked at in order to make improvements.

I was glad of the opportunity to meet with to shadow them for a custody visit at Aberystwyth Police Station.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ICVs for the fantastic work they do to help ensure that detainees are treated fairly, and that our custody suites here in Dyfed-Powys offer a safe environment for all.

It was reassuring to see that everything was in order and as it should be in the Aberystwyth custody suite, and that no issues were identified.

In addition to the ICV volunteer groups I currently host another three volunteer schemes, which include, the Animal Welfare visitors, a Quality Assurance Panel, and the Youth Forum with Youth Ambassadors.