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

Dyfed Powys Commissioner Dayfdd Llywelyn has updated the Police and Crime Panel on his future plans. The Commissioner attended the last meeting of the Panel where he provided a progress report on the Police and Crime Plan. The plan contains details of his priorities which are - preventing and dealing with incidents and crime; protecting vulnerable people; bringing people to justice; enhancing access to policing services; ensuring high standards of professionalism; and spending wisely. The Panel heard that consultation had been carried out with the public regarding the plan which the Commissioner has a duty to publish annually. Letters have also been sent to town and community councils within the force area to ask their views. Mr Llywelyn said responses to date had been varied ranging from local issues to more serious offending. Partnership work was key to the success of the plan, and would be at its core, he said, along with public engagement. Mr Llywelyn also answered sev...

Llanelli Library is offering people the chance to meet their local police officer over a cup of coffee. Costa Cuppa with a Copper is held at the Lending Library every Wednesday from 2.30-3.30pm.

School pupils have been sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs at Ammanford Library by local police. The Library has had pupils at three schools, Ysgol Bro Banw, Ysgol Betws and Ysgol Parcyrhun, visit as part of National Crime Month working in partnership with the police. The youngsters were sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs by their local Police team, given baseball hats, had their thumbprints made into key-rings, tried on various items and sat in the police car. Deputy Sheriffs are local school children who look after their school and each other. They are encouraged to take an active interest in looking after their school premises reporting incidents to adults who can take the necessary action.

Victims of anti-social behaviour (ASB) have been given a stronger voice thanks to the introduction of the Community Trigger. The new initiative has been introduced in the UK and processes have been put in place in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Powys and Pembrokeshire to allow people to access the new power. Individuals, businesses and communities who have experienced ASB or hate crime or incidents - with a hate crime/incident being regarded as related to a person’s race, religion/belief, sexual orientation, disability or transgender status - can apply for a Community Trigger, which could lead to a review of their case. Applications can also be made on behalf of a victim provided their consent is given. For a trigger to be successful there is certain criteria that must be met. There needs to have been at least three complaints of ASB made within six months from an individual, at least five complaints of ASB within six months from more than one person within the same locality or one ...

Agencies in Carmarthenshire got together to discuss the opportunity they have to transform the lives of offenders in Carmarthenshire, with the launch of the Integrated Offender Management Scheme (IOM). IOM is all about the intensive management of priority offenders who represent the highest levels of risk, threat and harm to our community by recognising the factors that can lead to offending taking place. It aims to reduce crime, reduce levels of reoffending, improve public confidence in the criminal justice system and tackle the exclusion of offenders and their families. The event included presentations from Tony Kirk, the Welsh Government IOM Lead; Kate Thomas, Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership Manager; Ella Rabaiotti, Assistant Chief Executive of the Wales Community Rehabilitation Company, and Supt Robyn Mason, Territorial Police Commander for Carmarthenshire. The delegates took part in a speed dating style meet and great with the IOM experts and agencies to find out more...

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...