Residents across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys can expect to see more of their community policing teams as a new strategy that places renewed emphasis on engagement, early intervention, and prevention is launched.

Neighbourhood policing is provided by teams of police community support officers (PCSOs), police constables (PCs) and special constables who work alongside the community, public services and charities to identify and understand the issues affecting people’s safety, feelings of safety, and quality of life in their local area.

Under the new strategy, Neighbourhood Policing & Prevention Teams will spend more time being visible in their communities, tackling the root causes of problems that cause crime and antisocial behaviour, increase the fear of crime, and erode public confidence in the police.

Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis said: “Neighbourhood policing officers, PCSOs and volunteers perform a crucial role in the landscape of policing.

“Preventing harm is not a new concept to us, or indeed to our partners. We are, however,implementing a new and enhanced approach with increased focus on prevention with the aim of reducing victim and offence levels, and lowering demand on policing.

“As demand for policing services continues to rise, so does the need to find sustainable, system-wide solutions across public services–and Neighbourhood Policing & Prevention Teams play a vital role in this, working with partners every day to unpick complex issues and provide support that otherwise would not be possible.”

Of the more than 140,000 incidents Dyfed-Powys Police recorded in the 12-months ending July 2024i, anti-social behaviour accounted for almost 2 per cent (2,705 recorded incidents) - the equivalent of more than seven incidents every day.

In the same period, Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 33,553 crimes, of which 4,391 were thefts; 3,452 were criminal damage; and 1,963 were incidences of shoplifting–offences which are most often dealt with by neighbourhood policing teams–making up almost 30 per cent of all crimes recorded.

Dr Lewis continued: “Geographically, Dyfed-Powys Police is the largest police force in England and Wales. Spanning half the landmass of Wales, the force faces some unique policing challenges in ensuring that resources are deployed effectively and efficiently to prevent crime, reduce harm and respond to calls for service.

“While neighbourhood policing teams have always helped to prevent crime from happening through problem solving approaches, their remit over time has grown much wider.

“Under this new approach, we are re-focusing our efforts on important prevention, problem solving and early intervention work that stops problems like anti-social behaviour developing into crime.

“Equally important is the strong links they build with our communities, which means they are best placed to gather intelligence on a range of issues.

“These strong links with local residents, partners, and businesses help inform our response to local issues and makes a real difference in communities.”

Through the delivery of the prevention strategy for 2024-2028, Neighbourhood Policing & Prevention Teams will focus on long term problem solving and early intervention initiatives to address the quality-of-life issues that increase the fear of crime.

Central to this is the work that dedicated schools police officers deliver, providing crucial educational and wellbeing support to students aged 5-16 through a bilingual curriculum that not only contributes to student safety but provides pastoral care that can support children and young people who may otherwise become involved in crime and antisocial behaviour.

The Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn reaffirmed his commitment to a dedicated schools programme and its extension into higher education establishments in Dyfed-Powys - despite central funding cuts.

He said: “The safety and wellbeing of our children is paramount, and the role of school police officers has been vital in creating safe, supportive environments in our schools.

“Any reduction in support for this programme service risked compromising the development and security of our young people. That is why I made it a priority to ensure that the Schools Programme Service continues in our area.

“This was one of my top commitments during my re-election campaign, and I stand by my promise to support our schools and young people.

“Maintaining the Schools Service is essential not only for the immediate safety and support it offers,but also for the future success and wellbeing of students. I will continue to fight for its future and to protect the best interests of our children.”

Until March 2025, ten of the areas worst hit by antisocial behaviour across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys will receive an extra 11,000 hours of police patrols through a response known as Operation Ivydene, thanks to an injection of cash from the Home Office.

For more information about Operation Ivydene and whether it is live in your area, visit: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/news/dyfed-powys/news/2024/august-2024/op-ivydene/