News

Police publish equality objectives

Published

10 years ago

May 16, 2016

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has this week published its Strategic Equality Objectives for the next four years, 2016 to 2020.

The objectives are six key things decided upon after speaking with communities, others they work with and their workforce, which collectively they believe will help to safeguard our communities, in a way that meets everyone’s needs.

The objectives are:

To raise awareness of what Hate Crime and Hate Incidents are and how to report them in an attempt to increase the confidence of members of the community to report Hate Crime and Incidents
To ensure that services are accessible to all minority groups within our communities, and further ensure that they receive the appropriate level of service when they do access them
To ensure that staff and officers have the appropriate knowledge and resources to take into account our ageing population through service delivery and workforce management
To provide a high level of service when responding to cases of persons experiencing mental ill health or crisis
To increase the diversity of our workforce to more accurately reflect the communities we serve, across all ranks and specialisms
To promote health in the workplace through raising awareness of mental ill health and distress preventative measures, with a view to reduce absence on the grounds of psychological sickness

Deputy Chief Constable Liane James said:“Having specific objectives helps keep everyone’s mind focused and most importantly, ensures that we are developing a service which our communities have had an opportunity to have a say in.

“It’s really important we deliver a service that is accessible to all our communities and is mindful of all our communities’ needs. It is also important that our Officers and Staff are supported to deliver a standard of service that remains amongst the best nationally”

In developing these objectives, the force worked with other organisations in the public and voluntary sector and together, they asked people to think about their lives and things that influence their lives, including crime and access to justice.

Questions asked to participants were:

What works well?
What does not currently work so well?
What would make it better?

Speaking about her organisation’s role in developing this work, Sara Phillips, Charity Manager at Carmarthenshire People First, said: “Carmarthenshire People First were delighted to be tasked with facilitating the Equality Consultation Events in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. We passionately believe in the importance of public engagement. It is important that the people the Force supports and protects have a voice.

“The events were informal and we tried to inject an atmosphere of fun into a serious topic. It is essential that the views of the communities are heard, listened to and part of the Equality Strategy. Engagement promotes ownership and the communities will now have an investment in this strategic document.”

Speaking about her organisation’s role in developing this work, and specifically about how she worked with us to develop and Easy Read version of the strategy, Karen Chandler, Chief Officer at Pembrokeshire People First, said:”We are delighted to be working with Dyfed-Powys Police in the preparation of the easy read version of their Strategic Equality Plan. “Our members, adults with learning disabilities and/or autism, have been very involved in the preparation of the plan, and feel their voices have been heard as to the equalities issues that are a priority for them, and for other vulnerable people. And an easy read version of the plan is an essential, so that PPF members can continue to be “critical friends”, driving forward further improvements in Dyfed-Powys Police’s equalities agenda.”

The publication of these objectives is a refresh of a document originally published in 2012, where the force then set out a number of objectives aimed at improving its stop search process; improving engagement with communities, including young people and enhancing the support it provides internally to ensure the mental wellbeing of Officers and Staff.

How the force did in implementing these objectives can be found in the Strategic Equality Plan 2016 – 2020.

Community

Stix Noodle Bar in Haverfordwest rewards visitors who park and shop local

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

A POPULAR restaurant is taking on one of the town centre’s biggest frustrations with a new initiative designed to ease parking stress and encourage more visitors into the heart of the community.

Stix Noodle Bar has announced a new scheme offering customers money off their bill when they show proof of paid parking in the town.

Under the initiative, diners who present an active parking ticket or parking app booking will receive the equivalent cost of one hour’s parking deducted from their meal bill.

The business says the idea was created in response to ongoing concerns about local parking pressures, while also supporting neighbouring independent traders and encouraging more people to spend time in the town centre.

In a statement released alongside the launch, the restaurant said: “Tired of Haverfordwest’s parking stress? So are we. That’s why we’re doing something about it.”

The team behind the noodle bar is encouraging visitors to “park up, come in, eat well, then go explore some of the brilliant businesses right on our doorstep,” adding that “Haverfordwest is worth stopping for.”

The scheme has already received support from local representatives, including Reform Councillor, Scott Thorley, who praised the move as a practical way to support the town centre economy.

“This is an excellent idea,” he said. “Tackling parking stress while boosting local businesses and footfall in Haverfordwest — this is exactly the practical support our town centre needs.”

Community

Pembrokeshire named UK’s most photographed coastal national park

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

County’s coastline places sixth in UK-wide photo study

PEMBROKESHIRE has been named the most photographed coastal national park in the UK, according to new data from photo curation app Popsa.

The study, which analysed metadata from millions of customer photos uploaded in 2025, ranked Pembrokeshire Coast National Park sixth overall out of the UK’s 15 national parks.

It was the highest-ranked coastal park in the list, ahead of destinations including the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the Yorkshire Dales and Dartmoor.

Popsa gave Pembrokeshire a Photo Index Score of 28, representing 5.76% of all UK national park photography included in the study.

The company said the county’s 186-mile coastline, with its limestone arches, sea stacks, beaches and hidden coves, offered “photographic variety that few parks can match”.

Barafundle Bay was highlighted as one of the most photographed locations, particularly at low tide, while Skomer Island was noted for its puffin colonies, which attract photographers between April and July.

Wales performed strongly overall, with all three national parks appearing in the UK top ten. Eryri, formerly Snowdonia, ranked fifth, Pembrokeshire sixth, and Bannau Brycheiniog, formerly the Brecon Beacons, tenth.

Together, the three Welsh parks accounted for 16.46% of all UK national park photography in the study.

The Lake District topped the list, followed by the South Downs, the Peak District and the New Forest.

Popsa CEO Liam Houghton said: “Wales has three genuinely world-class national parks and this data shows they are clearly on photographers’ radar.

“But there’s a real gap between the quality of the landscapes and the volume of photos being taken there compared to the English parks.”

The findings suggest Pembrokeshire remains one of the UK’s standout destinations for landscape, wildlife and coastal photography, while also underlining the continued importance of the national park to the county’s tourism economy.

Crime

Pembroke woman accused of scrap fraud to appear in court

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant accused of dishonestly selling vehicle for scrap in Haverfordwest

A PEMBROKE woman is due to appear before magistrates charged with fraud after allegedly selling a vehicle for scrap in Haverfordwest.

Natalie Morris, aged 42, of Corston Lodge, Axton Hill, is accused of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006.

The allegation relates to an incident said to have taken place in Haverfordwest on Tuesday (Aug 9), 2022, in which Morris allegedly dishonestly made a false representation by selling a silver Toyota Corolla, registration CU52 XBR, for scrap.

The court heard the alleged offence was carried out with the intention of making a financial gain of £313.

The case was listed before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Monday (May 18), where a previously issued warrant was withdrawn.

No plea was entered and the matter was adjourned.

Morris is now due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court at 10:00am on Tuesday (May 26) for a plea hearing, where she will be asked to enter a guilty or not guilty plea.