Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Carmarthenshire County Council is helping ensure bonfire night doesn’t end up a damp squib. Thirty six outlets across the county have been granted licenses to store and sell fireworks for 2015, and Trading Standards officers have been busy inspecting premises to ensure fireworks meet safety standards, are stored safely, and are only sold to people aged over 18. The council is also helping to share important safety messages as part of Operation Bang (#OpBANG) – a Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership initiative which ensures a joint approach to safety and policing over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period. Whilst people are being encouraged to attend organised displays, anyone who does wish to purchase their own fireworks is advised to only buy through an approved seller which will have been inspected by Trading Standards officers. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, and enforcement, said: “We would prefer that people enjoy fireworks from a safe di...

Worried about leaving your home empty while you go away on holiday? Help is at hand in the form of security gadgets to put off burglars. Holiday Watch is a pioneering holiday security equipment loan scheme established by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Neighbourhood Development Team with the support of the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership . The scheme has been set up to combat burglaries in Carmarthenshire after being successfully piloted in Durham where it received tremendous praise from the local community as well as cutting crime and reducing the fear of crime. The scheme will be run by the Neighbourhood Development team in Llanelli who will loan boxes containing security equipment to members of the public. It is aimed at anyone who has poor security measures or people with a high level of fear of a crime happening when they are away on holiday. The person loaning the kit will attend a police station and sign the relevant documentation, they will then be given advice on where to...

Carmarthenshire CSP is working with Dyfed Powys Police to deliver the Police’s strategy to reduce violent and alcohol related violent crime throughout the county, create a safer community and provide the public with a first class quality of service. The strategic overview includes: Working alongside partners in order to manage the night time economy and protect families and individuals from domestic violence including effectively using the Special Constabulary and volunteers to support operational officers and partners. Protecting members of the public from harm by identifying and managing violent persons and reducing re-offending. This involves using the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) scheme to reduce the risk of harm to communities by concentrating on offenders who cause most harm ensuring effective bail management of offenders Using newspapers and local radio as well as social media such as Facebook and Twitter and the On Line Watch Link (OWL) scheme to raise awareness of...

The Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership has issued a stark warning to Bonfire Night revellers across Carmarthenshire – don’t get your fingers burnt! This time of year is one of the busiest for the police , fire service and county council , with parties, fireworks and bonfires. The Community Safety Partnership is urging people to have fun but to stay safe and not let celebrations get out of hand. Police have stepped up patrols on the streets to crack down on anti-social behaviour in the lead-up to November 5, and the fire service and council are working together to remove potential bonfires before they are lit. Parents are being urged to make sure they know where their children are and what they are doing, to attend organised fireworks events; and if they are having their own celebration to follow the fireworks code . There have also been school visits and a clampdown on shops selling fireworks to young people. And people have been warned - throwing fireworks at people, pro...

Swansea City stars have got behind this year’s Operation Bang campaign, urging everyone to have fun, but stay safe this Halloween and Bonfire Night. Strikers Alex Samuel and Bafétimbi Gomis, and club ambassador Lee Trundle, are backing  Carmarthenshire County Council , Dyfed Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service - all part of the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership - in encouraging people to be considerate to anyone who doesn’t wish to join in the celebrations. Operation Bang runs throughout the Halloween and Bonfire Night period, and spreads the message that we can all have fun without being a nuisance. Youth star Alex Samuel said: “I remember going trick or treating as a child and having a great time. It is important that children have fun but without causing concern for others. I hope everyone has a good time on Halloween and on Guy Fawkes night.” Swans ambassador Lee Trundle added: “Trick or treating is a tradition which a lot of children en...

Calling all GCSE students in Carmarthenshire – have fun celebrating your exam results – but don’t get carried away! Enjoy safe, alcohol-free and trouble-free enjoyment without getting carried away to A&E or the cells! The Community Safety Partnership wants to ensure students enjoy a safe and trouble-free post-results celebration. Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for Community Safety Cllr Pam Palmer said: “We want you to enjoy yourselves celebrating your exam results after all that hard work – but please do so safely and without causing trouble.”

Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership is offering tips to ensure your peace of mind while you are away on holiday by making sure your home is secure. Almost half of all burglaries happen when a house or flat is empty but the risk can be reduced by taking simple safety measures. Police community safety officer PC Rob Chapman said: “It’s a good idea to get help from family members or your neighbours. You could ask them to collect post, park in the drive, mow the lawn, open and close curtains, and so on. Anything to make the place look lived in. “Don’t advertise the fact that you are going away. For instance, don’t stand around with your cases waiting for a taxi. Simply pack your things, pack the car and go.” He also advised letting a neighbour know when you are on holiday and how to contact you, or someone who can act on your behalf, in an emergency.

Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership is offering the following tips to improve the security of your shed, outbuilding or garage this summer. Cover any windows with a curtain etc to stop prying eyes. Lay gravel around the door area (hard to walk on quietly) If possible fit bars on the inside of windows. Consider using extra internal bolts that drop into the floor for Up & Over garage doors. If you have wooden shed doors, check that the hinges and fixings are secured with coach bolts and not just screws. Fit a quality padlock and hasp, not a cheap one. Consider fitting a security light that has a built in sensor. Consider fitting a garage / shed alarm, no wires and can be fitted in about 5 minutes. Always lock your garage and when possible keep the doors closed. Security mark all your property, Use engravers or punches to mark your postcode and surname etc. Use permanent property markers on other types of property such as bikes, lawnmowers, strimmers, hand tools, electrical...

Carmarthenshire remains a low crime area and the Community Safety Partnership is working hard to build on this success. Crime levels have remained at similar levels compared to last year. A slight increase of 0.1 per cent, amounting to 10 crimes, was seen in the April 2013– March 2014 period, giving a total of 7,480 reported incidents during the year. Reductions have been seen in drug offences (down 19.2 per cent and 339, to 1,426), other burglaries (down 15.6 per cent with 53 fewer crimes to 287) and down two robberies to 10 over the period. A slight increase was seen in domestic burglary levels (up 4.5% to 209, an increase of nine), and other increases noted were in criminal damage (up 104 crimes and nine per cent to 1,264), vehicle crime (up 11.4 per cent, 45 crimes to 440) and violence against the person (up 214 crimes and 12 per cent to 1,999). Anti-social behaviour incidents have continued to fall with 8,345 reported during the year, a reduction of 8.4 per cent compared to the...

A street support scheme in Carmarthen has proved so successful that Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership is hoping to do something along similar lines in Llanelli. Carmarthen NightLight’s friendly team of volunteers from local churches and chapels go out onto the town’s streets on Saturday nights from 11pm - 3am to offer help. The volunteers could be handing out flip flops to girls who can no longer wear their high heels, giving people water or lollipops, picking up abandoned bottles and glasses - or simply providing a listening ear. The street team is in regular radio contact with the CCTV operators and police. Carmarthen NightLight is supported by Carmarthenshire CSP which recently paid for warm winter jackets for the volunteers and funded a leaflet to raise awareness of the scheme and bring in new volunteers. NightLight Co-ordinator, the Rev Coralie Steel said: “Both the police and the people on the streets are very appreciative of what we do and of the fact that we are t...

Revellers are being urged to be one of the good guys this Halloween and Bonfire Night. Scarlets players have joined police, fire and council officers to urge people to enjoy themselves without spoiling things for others. They are supporting Carmarthenshire’s Community Safety Partnership’s efforts as part of the all-Wales Operation Bang to encourage people to stay safe and not let celebrations get out of hand. Shops are being asked to not to sell eggs and flour to young people out to cause mischief, whilst pupils are being advised to act responsibly and are being given advice on the dangers of bonfires and fireworks, as the police and fire service visit local schools. Posters have also been produced for householders to display in their windows to say whether they welcome trick or treaters. They are being distributed amongst the community and are available at the council’s customer service centres and police stations. They can also be downloaded from the council’s website www.carmarthens...

Further consultation is underway on a proposal which would help to stop alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in an area of Llanelli. The Community Safety Partnership, with the support of the police, is looking at introducing the county’s first Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) in Carmarthenshire. It follows a request from the Glanymor and Tyisha Safer Communities Action Group who are concerned about anti-social behaviour incidents when those responsible are, or have been, drinking alcohol. Public consultation was initially carried out in November last year and all those that responded supported the proposal. The town council and licence holders within the proposed area were also asked for their views. The partnership is now consulting with the public again as part of the legislative process. Responses received previously have asked for the proposed area – which included the length of Station Road and the surrounding area as well as People’s Park - to be extended to some other recre...

Residents are being reminded to lock up their sheds and outbuildings as they get their gardens ready for the summer. Garden sheds and garages can be a treasure trove for thieves with bikes, lawnmowers, tools and equipment running into thousands of pounds. The Community Safety Partnership , which includes the police and council, is urging people to look at their summer security as part of its ‘Think Safe, Home Safe’ campaign. Community safety officer PC Rob Chapman said: “It’s important that people not only look to improve the security of their sheds, but also any other outbuildings they have where they store any kind of tools and equipment. “We want to encourage residents to take few simple steps to increase their security and hopefully avoid becoming a potential victim of crime.” Here are some ideas that you may be able to use to increase your security: • Cover windows with a curtain etc • Lay gravel around the door area • Fit bars on the inside of windows • Consider using extra inter...

Carmarthenshire residents are being urged to sign up to a police messaging system to help fight crime. Online Watch Link (OWL) sends messages by telephone, fax, email or mobile phone. It can be used by police to keep people up-to-date with what is going on in their area and for crime prevention advice. Crime alerts can also be sent out within half an hour of a crime occurring. It is an effective way of informing communities so that they can share information on incidents from thefts to rogue traders and works particularly well for Neighbourhood Watch groups; helping to prevent further crimes being committed as well as reassuring residents. The scheme is being piloted by Dyfed-Powys Police, with funding from the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership. For further information contact crime reduction co-ordinator Brian Jones on 101.

Llanelli’s first under-18s music venue and coffee bar has received almost £4,500 from the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership (CSP). The Vestry in Cowell Street is an alcohol free, live music venue for 11 to 18 year-olds giving them somewhere safe to hang out. Run by a group of volunteers, the project has been funded by the Presbyterian Church of Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Community Fund and County Collaboration Fund and CAVS Community Development Fund. The CSP grant will now be used to improve security at the venue, for example, the installation of CCTV, and will allow it to open on Saturday evenings as well as Saturday afternoons. Susan Hughes, Chair of the Presby and Children Youth Scene (PCYS), said: “We are very grateful to the Community Safety Partnership for this grant as it will help us to improve security and pay for a doorman to be employed on Saturday evenings. We have received a lot of support from the police and they advised us to have a doorman if...