PUBLIC concerns about speeding, drink and drug driving, mobile phone use and anti-social driving are being used to shape targeted roads policing operations across the Dyfed-Powys Police area.

Surveys submitted through Dyfed-Powys Connects are being combined with collision data and local intelligence to identify problem areas and plan enforcement activity.

Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams, Roads Policing Units and GoSafe are working together on the initiative, with monthly meetings held to review concerns raised by residents.

The operations will focus on offences including speeding, drink and drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving. Anti-social driving has also been highlighted by members of the public.

Offending motorists stopped during the operations may be offered roadside engagement or face enforcement action.

Police said drivers could be offered a free roadside engagement session or a fixed penalty, depending on the offence and circumstances. A seatbelt offence currently carries a £100 fine, while a speeding offence can result in a £100 fine and three penalty points.

Motorists who refuse to engage with officers, or who are found to be exceeding the speed limit by a greater margin, may be prosecuted.

GoSafe will also assist with targeted enforcement in surrounding areas. Offences recorded by GoSafe may result in an educational course or a fixed penalty, depending on eligibility.

Chief Inspector Dominic Jones, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “The information people give us through Dyfed-Powys Connects is invaluable. It lets our teams get into the heart of communities struggling with these issues.

“Connects is opening a new way for us to talk directly with people and have conversations that shape what our officers are doing.

“The more we get from people on Dyfed-Powys Connects, the more we can target this behaviour and make our roads safer for everyone.”

Dyfed-Powys Connects is free to sign up for and is available online or as an app. It provides local alerts about policing activity, crime, anti-social behaviour, events and prevention messages.

Police said the activity and results of the road safety operations will also be published through Dyfed-Powys Connects.

INSURANCE customers are borrowing more than £500 a year on average to cover the cost of their premiums, new research has found.

Premium Credit’s latest Insurance Index shows the average amount borrowed by customers using credit to pay for insurance has risen by 26% in a year, from £400 to £505.

The figure is also sharply higher than two years ago, when the average amount borrowed was £302.

Cost-of-living pressure

The research found that 76% of adults now use some form of credit to pay for one or more insurance policies.

More than half of those who borrowed more, 53%, said the rising cost of living was the main reason, while 26% blamed increases in insurance premiums.

However, nearly a quarter, 23%, said they had taken on more credit because monthly payments were more convenient and helped them manage their money.

Credit card use rises

Credit cards remain the most common form of borrowing used to pay insurance bills, with 55% of customers relying on them, compared with 41% last year.

Premium Credit said this could be risky because of the potentially high cost of unsecured borrowing.

The index found that 11% of those who used credit to pay for one or more insurance policies had defaulted on repayments in the past year, almost double the 6% recorded last year.

Around one in eight people questioned said they had been turned down for a credit card in the past two years.

Car and home cover

The research found credit was most commonly used to pay for car and home insurance, with 56% of adults using credit to pay each of those policies monthly.

Credit was also used to pay for life insurance by 33% of adults, pet insurance by 28%, travel insurance by 28%, health insurance by 23%, and critical illness cover by 12%.

Premium Credit said customers should consider premium finance as an alternative to credit cards or overdrafts, allowing annual policies to be paid monthly for a charge.

Mona Patel, consumer spokesperson at Premium Credit said: “Insurance customers are borrowing more to cover their insurance payments due to cost-of-living pressures rather than insurance premium increases.

“However, it is notable that substantial numbers who are borrowing more are doing so because paying for insurance monthly is more convenient and better for their general budgeting in line with how they pay for other products and services.

“Premium finance is specifically designed to help smooth out the impact of a single lump sum and improve cash flow.

“Spreading the cost of an annual policy into more convenient monthly payments works for many millions of UK consumers and businesses and it can be a good alternative to other forms of credit like credit cards or bank overdrafts.”

Financial outlook

The research also found that nearly a third of adults, 32%, expect their financial situation to worsen over the next 12 months.

Just 19% expect their finances to improve, while 38% believe they will remain unchanged.

The research was carried out by PureProfile among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 UK adults between March 13 and March 18, 2026.

THE WORLD’S last seagoing paddle steamer will return to Fishguard this month as part of her annual visit to South West Wales.

Paddle Steamer Waverley will call at Fishguard on Wednesday (Jun 17), offering passengers an evening cruise along the Pembrokeshire coastline.

The historic vessel, which is celebrating 80 years since her launch in 1946, will sail past Strumble Head Lighthouse before continuing towards St David’s Head.

Matthew Tucker MBE, Fishguard Port Manager, said Stena Line Ports was proud to welcome the vessel back to the town.

He said: “Her arrival offers a rare opportunity for visitors and residents alike to experience a unique and much-loved vessel up close.

“This year’s visit is made even more significant as Waverley celebrates the 80th anniversary of her launch, and her call at Fishguard places the port firmly on the map as part of this historic journey, attracting enthusiasts, tourists, and day-trippers eager to be part of the experience.

“We expect the visit to create a vibrant buzz across the area, showcasing Fishguard as a destination rich in heritage and coastal charm.”

Waverley’s General Manager, Paul Semple, said the visit was particularly special as the ship continues to steam around the coastline of Great Britain eight decades after her launch.

He said: “While the cost of operating a historic ship continues to rise, including a 65 per cent increase in fuel costs this season, Waverley remains very much in operation thanks to the tremendous support we receive from passengers, members, volunteers and supporters across the UK.

“The best way people can help secure Waverley’s future is by stepping aboard and enjoying a cruise, helping to ensure she can continue sailing for generations to come.”

Passengers on board can hear the ship’s telegraph ring, visit the engine room, watch the paddles turning through the portholes, and enjoy catering facilities including snacks, meals, refreshments and a souvenir shop.

Waverley is also due to call at Milford Haven and Tenby on Tuesday (Jun 16) during her Pembrokeshire visit.

The ship was built in Glasgow for the London and North Eastern Railway, launched on October 2, 1946, and entered service on June 16, 1947.

She was gifted to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1974 for £1 and has since carried more than six million passengers in preservation.

Tickets are available from waverleyexcursions.co.uk or by calling 0141 243 2224.