News

Support for domestic abuse victims using ‘counter terrorism policing approach’

Published

1 month ago

November 28, 2024

MORE than 100 domestic abuse victims in Carmarthenshire have received additional support thanks to the adoption of a policing approach developed in counter terrorism.

Dyfed-Powys Police has trialled using the ‘four Ps’ method during contact with victims of medium risk graded domestic incidents, resulting in a quarter of victims choosing to benefit from enhanced safeguarding measures.

During the six-month pilot, 455 medium risk domestic abuse incidents were recorded in Carmarthenshire, with each victim offered contact with a Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team (NPPT) officer. With those who accepted, a four Ps approach to engagement following the principles Prepare, Protect, Prevent and Pursue was carried out.

The pilot, which began in Llanelli and was extended to Carmarthen and Ammanford, has been so successful that it is now being rolled out forcewide.

Chief Inspector Steve Thomas said: “The four Ps policing method was developed in counter terrorism, so it might seem unusual to adopt this technique when working with victims of domestic abuse. However, the overall aim is to protect the victim from further harm and pursue the offender, which are both incredibly important elements in policing a crime type where sadly repeat offending is frequent.

“During the pilot, all victims of medium risk domestic-related incidents were given the option of engagement with an NPPT officer, who worked their way through the prepare, protect, prevent and pursue tactics.

“Within six months, 115 victims in just one division were provided with additional safeguarding and support. This means a quarter of the people affected by domestic abuse incidents graded as medium risk during this timeframe were able to be further protected.

“The new approach has had positive feedback from victims, who were grateful for the offer of additional engagement and support, and will be continued across the force.”

NPPT officers engaging with victims, worked through the four Ps as follows:

Prepare: This stage enables officers to work with the victim by assessing the circumstances of the domestic incident and establishing if it is suitable to contact them. If so, contact is made within a set timeframe, with consideration for earlier engagement – for example if a safeguarding kit is needed.

Protect: During the protect phase, officers consider what measures can be put in place to prevent further offending against the victim. The preferred action is for officers to meet with the victim in person to gather evidence.

Prevent: The third phase sees officers consider what measures can be put in place to prevent further offending against the victim. Officers can also put a patrol plan in place, or a plan to carry out bail checks over a number of weeks.

Pursue: The final stage looks at the opportunities to pursue the offender and bring them to justice. This could range from further arrests if additional offences are disclosed by the victim, to civil orders against the offender being progressed.

Chief Inspector Thomas added: “We are encouraged by the results of this pilot, and hope to see the number of victims accepting additional engagement rise as the new way of working is embedded and understood.”

Crime

Police issue update following incident at Tenby multi-storey

Published

22 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Luke Sinclair

Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed this morning that they are investigating a collision on the ground floor of the multi-storey car park in Tenby, at around 4pm on Thursday, January 2.

The collision, police said, involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a young child.

The child remains in a critical condition in hospital.

The family are being supported by specially trained officers.

One man, aged 33, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, drink driving, and drug driving. He remains in police custody.

Police issued a statement saying: “This is a tragic incident and is a live investigation.

“We ask that you do not speculate the circumstances and allow our officers to carry out their enquiries.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to us, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Quote reference 25*6238”

News

Milford sex offender’s child abuse images ‘most disturbing imaginable’

Published

1 day ago

January 3, 2025

Court Reporter

A 40-YEAR-OLD man from Pembrokeshire has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after being found with nearly 40,000 indecent images of children, including some of the most disturbing nature imaginable. Jason Church, a father of young children, appeared at Swansea Crown Court where he faced multiple charges related to child exploitation.

The investigation began when police traced suspicious online activity linked to Church’s home in Milford Haven. On August 23, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at his residence, during which Church admitted to having incriminating material on his mobile phone. He explicitly stated to the police, “It’s on my phone, what you’re looking for” when questioned about the nature of the images.

Upon examination of his Samsung device, authorities uncovered a staggering collection: 2,688 images classified as Category A (the most severe), along with 4,160 Category B images and an alarming 32,205 Category C images. Among these horrific images were videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children, including a baby. Additionally, officers discovered a 170-page manual that provided detailed guidance on how to exploit children and evade detection.

In court, prosecutor Ashanti-Jade Walton highlighted the graphic content of the material found and emphasised the seriousness of Church’s offences. Despite his previous clean record, Church pleaded guilty to all charges against him. His defence barrister noted that Church was aware of the severity of his actions and had sought help from organizations aimed at preventing child exploitation.

Judge Huw Rees condemned Church’s actions as “unhealthy” and a significant danger to children. He stated, “These are not just images; they represent real victims,” reinforcing the gravity of Church’s crimes and the impact they have on real lives.

In addition to his prison sentence, Church is required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years following his release.

Community

Welsh Water distribute free cold weather lagging kits

Published

1 day ago

January 3, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AS the winter season is in full swing and the temperature drops, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is offering free winter lagging kits to help households across Wales prepare for the colder months. With over 2,500 kits available, the initiative aims to assist residents in protecting their homes against frozen pipes and costly bursts.

Frozen pipes can lead to unwanted damage and unnecessary stress during the winter season, but with the right preparation the risks can be minimised.
The winter lagging kit includes pipe insulation and a tap jacket – with lagging designed to protect exposed pipes and a tap jacket to prevent outdoor taps from freezing and bursting.

“We understand how challenging winter can be for many people, which can be made worse should the unexpected happened – such as a experiencing a frozen or burst pipe,” said Euan Hampton, Water Demand – Delivery Manager at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. “To help ease the pressures winter can bring, we’re offering free pipe lagging kits and tap jackets as part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities stay safe, warm, and secure throughout the colder months.”

In addition to distributing free lagging kits and tap jackets. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recommends the following tips to help residents prepare their homes:

Locate your stop tap: Knowing the location of your stop tap is essential in the case of an emergency. If your pipes freeze or burst, you’ll want to shut the water off to minimise damage.
Clear your gutters: Blocked gutters can lead to excess water accessing your home, especially during a storm.
Insulate pipes: Not only outdoor pipes need preparing, think of areas that may be at risk to cold weather – attics or uninsulated cupboards.
Fix those drips: Dripping taps can increase the risk of frozen pipes. Fixing it will also save you litres of water every day, saving both energy and money on your water bill.
Away from home? Empty buildings are at particular risk. If you’re leaving your home for a prolonged period, turn off your stop tap and drain down the system – so there is no water in the system to freeze. If you’re away for a short time, if you can, we suggest keeping your heating on low to help keep your home warm and prevent pipes from freezing.
The free kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a free winter lagging kit or tap jacket, customers can visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/winter-ready

Alongside the helpful tips to prepare your home this winter and advice on how to manage any issues should they arise. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water are also offering free water efficiency home visits to all domestic customers – and the free lagging kit and tap jackets can be installed as part of the visit.

If you would like to find out more ways you could start saving, visit: www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/cartref/water-efficiency-home-visit