News

Police say ‘we care’ during National Safeguarding Week

Published

9 years ago

November 13, 2017

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is saying ‘we care’ during National Safeguarding Week (Nov 13-17) by highlighting the work it does day in day out to protect vulnerable children and adults.

Police officers and staff have teamed up with partner agencies to raise awareness of issues that affect vulnerable people in communities on behalf of the Regional Safeguarding Board for Children and Adults.

There will be themed days throughout the week where information will be provided to people in need of support or those who can help to protect people at risk of harm. Officers will also be promoting support services available to people such as Llamau missing persons debrief workers who liaise with children are have been missing and at risk of CSE, Independent Domestic Violence Officers (IDVA) officers who support those at high risk of domestic abuse Goleudy, an independent commissioned service for victims and witnesses of crime.

A Crucial Crew event will also be running in Pembrokeshire Monday to Friday, where police will give an input on cyber safety to all primary school children attending. There will also be focussed delivery of key topics in schools throughout the force area on topics including Child Sexual Exploitation, consent, grooming and safer relationships as well as a specific focus on bullying in schools where pupils get to discuss the difference between ‘banter’ and ‘bullying’ and look at the effect of bullying on children.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Claire Parmenter said: “Dyfed-Powys Police has dedicated teams who work with partner agencies to protect the most vulnerable including children, the elderly, people suffering domestic abuse and people with mental health issues. We care about our communities and we care about doing the best possible job we can to ensure we effectively look after those who are vulnerable. National Safeguarding Week is a perfect opportunity to strengthen our relationships with partners and to ensure the information people need to stay safe gets out there to the communities we serve.”

Detective Superintendent Anthony Griffiths said: “Safeguarding the vulnerable within our community is a priority for Dyfed-Powys Police. This week officers will be engaging with mental health teams, residential care providers, schools and the community to ensure that safeguarding is at the forefront of people’s minds and that everyone knows where support can be accessed.”

Themed activities for the week are as follows:

Monday – Child Sexual Exploitation
Officers and PCSOs will be out and about highlighting the signs of child sexual exploitation, particularly at hotels and guest houses where vulnerable children could be taken to be exploited. Officers and Llamau workers will also be visiting children highlighted as at risk of child sexual exploitation to ensure they are safe and understand the dangers of putting themselves at risk or going missing. They will also visit schools to ensure the messages get to the right people.

Tuesday – Modern Day Slavery
Raising awareness of the signs of modern day slavery within the police service to ensure officers recognise the signs and understand how to investigate effectively. Officers will also be on patrol distributing leaflets on the signs of modern day slavery.

Wednesday – Mental Health and Resilience
Officers and PCSOs will be visiting Mental Health Units promoting the services we provide that could be of benefit to people with mental health conditions, including how to report hate crime, encouraging people to talk about mental health, and raise awareness of the partnership safeguarding approach in place to protect vulnerable people. They will also be holding information roadshows in town centres and other locations.

Thursday – Cyber Security
Work will be carried out to raise awareness amongst the vulnerable of the potential harm of cybercrime and how they can become cyber secure. In Ceredigion, online safety information will be given at Coleg Ceredigion in the morning and Tesco in the afternoon. A Safeguarding conference will be held at Pembrokeshire College, bringing together professionals to find out more about cyberbullying, cyber fraud and exploitation.

Friday – Domestic Abuse
Domestic Abuse officers will be linking in with domestic abuse support services to offer advice on police responsibilities in domestic abuse cases and to encourage future reporting of cases and visit domestic abuse sufferers to ensure they are aware of the support available to them.

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

7 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.