News
Volunteers wanted to scrutinise police complaints
VOLUNTEERS with an inquiring mind and analytical skills are being sought to scrutinise the Dyfed-Powys Police complaints process.
The successful candidates will form a panel being created to examine public complaint files and to recommend improvements to the force’s system.
Dyfed-Powys Police receive around 700 complaints every year on matters such as neglect of duty, oppressive conduct, incivility and lack of fairness.
From October to December 2013, 203 complaints were received of which 25 were in Pembrokeshire and 46 at force HQ. The Residents’ Panel, being created by Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon, will consider a number of files four times a year.
Mr Salmon said: “The people of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys must trust the police; one way of building that trust is for the public themselves to scrutinise the complaints process.
“The volunteers I seek will be enthusiastic about improving policing. They will have communication skills, will be able to interpret detailed information and will have experience of reviewing or developing services, and evaluating performance. They will be eager to challenge and make balanced judgements.”
Panel members will be over 18, preferably living in Dyfed-Powys and must not be, or have been, on a police force payroll. After training, they will review randomly selected police complaint files and will consider whether, in their view, complaints were dealt with fairly. The panel’s brief may be broadened in future.
Panel meetings to discuss issues raised will take place at a time and place convenient to the volunteers. This could include evening or weekend meetings. Expenses will be paid.
The panel represents an increase in police transparency. More in-depth scrutiny is now applied to the Dyfed-Powys Professional Standards Department (PSD) which handles complaints.
Superintendent Huw Meredith, head of Dyfed-Powys PSD, said: “Dyfed-Powys Police aims to provide a first class service to its communities and expects police officers and staff to behave on and off duty in accordance with the national Standards of Professional Behaviour.
“Unfortunately, there are occasions where the service provided falls below this standard and leads to dissatisfaction and complaints.
“In this event, we aim to establish what went wrong, try to put it right and – where appropriate – offer an apology.
“The Residents” Panel will provide the community an opportunity to scrutinize the complaints process and determine if these complaints have been dealt with fairly.”
Residents’ Panel Info: http://bit.ly/1aooLy6, 01267 226440, opcc@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk.
News
Large emergency service mobilisation to assist driver who went over cliff near oil refinery

POLICE, ambulance, coastguard, and RNLI and two helicopters were all involved in the extraction of a casualty from a vehicle which had gone over a cliff and landed on the beach at Popton Fort very near to Valero Oil Refinery on Thursday morning.
The emergency call came just after 6.30am, with a large number of rescuers arriving quickly to assist the driver of the vehicle.
Valero oil refinery confirmed that the incident did not involve their facility.
RNLI Angle posted on social media saying the following: “Our crew were paged at 6:37am to a vehicle over the cliff near Popton Fort.
“A vehicle had left the road and fallen onto the beach below.
“Police, ambulance, the fire service and St Govans and Tenby coastguard rescue teams were already on scene, however the lifeboat was requested to assist with evacuating the casualty due to the difficult location.

“Following assessment and stabilisation by paramedics, it was decided that the casualty’s injuries were potentially too severe for transfer by sea, but not ruled out completely due to the incoming tide.
“With this, a request was made for the air ambulance to attend.
“With the air ambulance paramedics now on scene, their assessment was that evacuation by helicopter would be the most appropriate, therefore a further request was made for the a coastguard rescue helicopter to attend and evacuate the casualty.
“With the option of evacuation by lifeboat still a possibility, the all-weather lifeboat stood off should it be required.
“With the coastguard helicopter now on scene, the casualty was handed over into the helicopter for onward transfer to hospital.
“The lifeboat was stood down to return to station, arriving back at 8:30am.”

News
National Park Trust supporters take a walk on the wild side

SUPPORTERS of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust were treated to a dazzling display of wildlife during a recent guided walk through Skrinkle Meadow.
The event, which took place against a backdrop of glorious summer weather, was arranged as a way of expressing thanks to Trust supporters and highlighting the importance of meadows and the Trust’s Make More Meadows campaign.
The Make More Meadows campaign has been running since April 2019, and seeks to reverse a dramatic national decline in wildflower meadows over the last 75 years. So far, it has raised enough money to support 13 meadow sites, covering a total of 132 hectares and providing vital habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.

Director of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust Jessica Morgan said: “The Walk and Talk event at Skrinkle was an excellent opportunity to showcase the colourful results of meadow restoration, and our thanks go to National Park Authority Ranger Service Manager Libby Taylor, whose expertise turned this into a thoroughly enjoyable visit. National Park Authority Wardens have worked for years to improve biodiversity at Skrinkle Meadow, and seeds from the meadow have been used to create other wildflower meadows in the Park.
“On this occasion, six-spot burnet moths stole the show, but in previous years Skrinkle Meadow has provided some of the best orchid displays and richest variety of wildflowers in the county.”
The meadow regeneration theme was of particular interest to many of the attendees, who either have meadows of their own, or are considering establishing new ones.
To learn about the work of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust and exclusive supporter events like this, sign up to the newsletter at https://pembrokeshirecoasttrust.wales/
News
Paddleboarder with suspected wrist fracture assisted by Fishguard RNLI

ON SATURDAY (Aug 13), a female paddleboarder, who decided to take a swim when located at Aber Bach, unfortunately fractured her wrist when diving from a nearby rock. Her female companion called for assistance which resulted in Fishguard RNLI’s inshore lifeboat being tasked to the scene, located between Fishguard and Dinas Head.
The inshore lifeboat, with three crew members, launched at 2.20pm and arrived on scene at 2.40pm. Her injury was assessed by a crew member, who is a practicing doctor, and she and her companion were transferred to Pwllgwaelod beach where their car was located and they drove to Withybush Hospital for further treatment.

The lifeboat then returned to base at 3.00pm.
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