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Croeso - Welcome

Welcome to another edition of my monthly bulletin which looks back at some of the highlights and key activities from November and early December as we approach the festive period.

In this edition, we have a wealth of noteworthy updates to share with you once again.  A proud moment for myself and all at my Office and Dyfed-Powys Police was to hear that the new Police Station at Dafen, Llanelli Carmarthenshire, which opened it’s doors in May this year has won a national ‘high quality estate’ award.  You can read about the award and new station below.

The second proud moment was to understand that our Independent Custody Visiting Scheme has won a prestigious national Gold award for the quality of its Independent Custody Visiting Scheme. The Independent Custody Visiting Scheme is a volunteer scheme that is run by my Office, and this award is a testament to the collaborative efforts between our community, Dyfed-Powys Police and my Office, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in ensuring the welfare and rights of individuals in Custody. 

We also had an opportunity to celebrate some other key initiatives and developments within the Dyfed-Powys area at the Wales Safer Communities Awards, with Dyfed-Powys Police’s Economic Crime Team, INTACT - a multi-agency partnership to combat serious violence and organised crime in Dyfed-Powys, and the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) housing project in Dyfed-Powys winning awards at the Awards Ceremony in Swansea.

I have also been involved in the White Ribbon Campaign during the last weeks - an important 16 days of activism campaign against men’s violence against women and girls.

You can read about all of these activities and more below.  Please remember that the Policing Precept Consultation will close on 17th of December.  If you haven’t yet filled the short questionnaire  I urge you to do so by clicking here, so that you can have your say on next year’s Policing budget.

If you have any questions, or would like to raise any local issues with me, please reach out to my office on e-mail.

Finally, as we approach the festive season I would like to take a moment to extend my gratitude to your continued support and commitment over the year.  I have been fortunate to meet some of you at various points during the year either at engagement days or events in your communities, or here at Police Headquarters Carmarthen.  I am extremely grateful for your support and dedication to the safety and wellbeing of our communities.

Christmas is traditionally a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, it is important to acknowledge that this period is not always a joyous occasion for everyone. For some, it can be a challenging period, evoking feelings of loneliness, sadness, or stress. It's crucial that we recognise these emotions and offer our support to those who may be struggling at this time.

I encourage each and every one of you to reach out to your colleagues, friends, and family.  Taking the time to check in on one another, especially during the holiday season, can make a significant difference.

There is strength in seeking support, and there are numerous support services available to assist those who may be going through difficult times.  Whether it's through friends, family, or professional services, there is always someone willing to listen and provide assistance.

As we celebrate the holidays, may we also extend a hand to those in need, ensuring that no one feels alone during this season.

Wishing you a safe, peaceful, and joyous Christmas.

Dafydd Llywelyn

Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner

White Ribbon Campaign and raising awareness of Child to Parent Abuse

I proudly showed my support to White Ribbon Day on 25th of November again this year, which marked the start of 16 days of activism against men’s violence against women and girls.

Both myself and Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Richard Lewis are committed to tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.

As you are probably aware, in my Police and Crime Plan I have committed to commission specialist support for victims of domestic and sexual violence, while one of Chief Constable Richard Lewis’s three priorities is to eradicate domestic abuse.

In recent weeks, I was involved in several key events and activities on Domestic Abuse leading up to White Ribbon Day, including speaking at an online event raising awareness of CPA (Child to Parent Abuse) and attending a conference in London to raise awareness and to provide insight for employers on CPA and the impact on employees.

Child to Parent Abuse is a particular nuance of domestic abuse, and there is lack of awareness of this type of abuse which is something that I have been keen to address in recent years.

In 2021, along with partners within the Dyfed Powys area, I worked with an organisation called PEGS (Parents Education Growth Support), to inform and develop a regional policy and guidance document regarding child to parent abuse.

In addition to this, a comprehensive training package has been delivered to practitioners, including police officers, commissioned services and partners through PEGS.

Both myself and my Office are proud to stand with Dyfed-Powys Police in our commitment to tackling domestic abuse.

Child to Parent Abuse is an often overlooked aspect of this issue, and it is our duty to raise awareness.

Our Independent Custody Visitor Scheme wins National Gold Award

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that we have won a prestigious national Gold award for the quality of our Independent Custody Visiting Scheme.

The Independent Custody Visiting Scheme is a volunteer scheme that is run by my Office.

Arising after riots in the 80s centred around public distrust in policing, and in particular the policing of black communities, independent custody visitors (or ICVs) are volunteers who give their time to make unannounced visits to police custody across the UK, ensuring the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of detainees throughout the country.

In Dyfed-Powys, there are currently eighteen volunteers who act as Independent Custody Visitors, and make unannounced visits to police custodies in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Powys. 

The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) Quality Assurance Awards were presented at a ceremony at the Old Library, Birmingham on29 November.

ICVA is the national organisation which supports, leads and represents locally-run custody visiting schemes. Schemes manage teams of independent volunteers who visit those detained in police custody.

This recognition reflects the commitment and dedication of our volunteers and the high standards of custody visiting and volunteer management in our region.

Carmarthenshire Police Station wins national ‘high quality’ Estate award

Dyfed-Powys Police’s new Police base in Dafen, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire has won a national ‘high quality estate’ award.

The National Police Estates Group (NPEG) Awards is an annual award that provides an opportunity for police forces in the U.K to showcase the quality of their work in delivering a police estate that is relevant and appropriate, demonstrates good value for money and is aesthetically pleasing.

At this year’s awards that took place earlier this Autumn, Dyfed-Powys Police won the Project or refurbishment (£5M and above) Award for their new Police estate construction in Dafen.

I was delighted of this announcement in recent weeks. This new build has been a significant investment which has provided us with a modern, sustainable fit for purpose policing hub and custody suite that meets the needs and expectations of modern policing.

This achievement underlines our commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities that not only meet the highest environmental standards but also enhance the overall effectiveness of our policing service.

Three nominations from Dyfed-Powys wins Wales Safer Communities Awards at Ceremony in Swansea

Dyfed-Powys Police’s Economic Crime Team, INTACT - a multi-agency partnership to combat serious violence and organised crime in Dyfed-Powys, and the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) housing project in Dyfed-Powys won awards at the Wales Safer Communities Award in Swansea recently.

The Safer Communities Awards were being held to recognise outstanding contributions to community safety in a multi-agency context. The Awards Ceremony was an opportunity to recognise those who have had a real impact on people’s lives throughout the year.

The Economic Crime Team (Safeguarding Award Winners), INTACT (Serious Violence Award Winners) and the IOM project (Offending and Justice Award) were three of four nominees put forward by Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn for an award.

Over recent years, staff and officers from Dyfed-Powys Police as well as some key partners who work within all three of these business areas have shown commitment and dedication to safeguarding the communities of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Powys and deserve to be recognised nationally.

I am immensely proud to congratulate Dyfed-Powys Police and the multi-agency partners, on the well-deserved recognition given to them at the national Wales Safer Communities Award this week. This accomplishment highlights a commitment to safeguarding our communities by tackling complex challenges.

Please click on the below link to read more about the work of all three award winners.

Hosting Open Door Events at Police Headquarters

During November, I hosted a series of Open Doors events at Police Headquarters for community representatives.

County Councillors, Town and Community Councillors as well as Members of Parliament and Members of Senedd were invited to visit Police Headquarters at Llangunnor, Carmarthen to go behind closed doors to learn more about the work of some key specialist units at Dyfed-Powys Police.

The events included a range of inputs from specialist units and departments on key areas of policing such as Serious Violence and Organised Crime, Special Operations, and the Vulnerability Hub.  The events aimed to provide community representatives with a comprehensive understanding of the vast work being undertaken by the Force to ensure that Dyfed-Powys communities remain safe from harm.

Attendees were also given a drone flight demonstration, and a tour of the Force Control Centre where they got an overview of how 101, 999 calls and the digital desk are being operated, and how the CCTV infrastructure is being implemented to support Officers on the ground.

These Open Doors events have hopefully developed community representatives’ understanding of elements of work that Dyfed-Powys Police do, that maybe people are not aware of.  Our aim was to develop a deeper sense of transparency and trust between Dyfed-Powys Police and the communities we serve, and also an opportunity to share insights and engage in constructive discussions with officers.

Further funding to support Road victims and their families

As part of Road Safety Week in November, I approved a 12-month extension to a support service for road victims in Dyfed-Powys area which I have funded over the last year. 

The funding will enable service provider Brake, to continue with the employment of a dedicated Independent Road Victim Advocate (IRVA), working with Dyfed-Powys Police and directly with victims who have been affected by road incidents.

Brake’s National Road Victim Service (NRVS) is the leading, largest, road victim support provider for the UK. It has a 20-year record of accredited, road victim service provision using the evidence-based established model of care called case-managed care.

The funding provided enables Brake to work in partnership with Dyfed-Powys Police to work to empower victims of a road crash, ensuring people have access to and are supported by the IRVA into a specialist intervention support service. The funding allows this role to be in place until April 2025.

Sadly, road collisions are common here in Dyfed-Powys, despite the proactive work of our Roads Policing Unit, Community Safety Speedwatch, and Go Safe.

I cannot begin to  imagine the trauma experienced by families who suffer a bereavement or life-changing injury in a road collision and I hope that by funding this service delivered by Brake we can help alleviate some of that suffering, fear and uncertainty for victims in Dyfed-Powys.