TEENAGERS in Carmarthenshire have been stepping up to make a positive impact by volunteering their time to help tackle anti-social behaviour in their communities.

As part of Operation Ivydene, a campaign aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour across the force area, the Volunteer Police Cadets have been distributing leaflets in key hotspot areas in including in Carmarthen.

So far, nearly 2,000 leaflets have been delivered, encouraging residents to complete a short questionnaire and provide feedback to help officers better respond to community needs. 

The cadets have clocked up nearly 100 hours of volunteering between them and a further leaflet drop with take place in Ammanford over the next few weeks.

The Police Cadet scheme is a nationally recognised free program that gives young people aged between 13 and 17-years-old the opportunity to make friends, develop leadership skills, engage with the police and contribute positively in the community. They take part in a two-hour weekly structured programme at various locations across the force and help to enhance the relationship between the public and police.

Rhian Curtis, Force Volunteer Police Cadet Officer, said: “Very often teenagers are unfairly labelled as being the cause of anti-social behaviour, but our cadets are proving that young people can be part of the solution. They are committed, enthusiastic and eager to make a difference in their local areas.

“Part of the aim of the cadets is to support local policing policies through volunteering and Operation Ivydene falls within this remit.

“We encourage residents to fill in the survey, which will not only provide feedback to the police but also show the cadets how beneficial their hard work has been.

“By taking proactive steps to support crime prevention and community engagement, the cadets are demonstrating that young people can play a crucial role in fostering safer neighbourhoods.”

Dyfed-Powys Police is always recruiting for new Volunteer Police Cadets across the force.

For more information how to get involved and make a difference visit Volunteer Police Cadets | Dyfed-Powys Police

SOUTH WALES POLICE is facing growing scrutiny after refusing to disclose the identity of an officer who misused force computer systems over two years, leaking sensitive information to members of the public.

The officer, known only as ‘Officer F,’ received a criminal caution for illegally accessing police data but was not prosecuted. His identity was also kept secret during a misconduct hearing, despite similar cases in which officers have been publicly named and prosecuted. The force claims anonymity was granted due to concerns about the health and well-being of a child unrelated to the officer’s actions, but legal precedents suggest this does not justify withholding the name.

The Herald has pressed South Wales Police for further transparency, asking how the decision aligns with open justice principles. The force has cited Regulation 59 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 as the basis for its decision, stating that the misconduct hearing was held in public but with the officer’s identity protected. However, past legal rulings, including Khuja v Times Newspapers (2017), have reinforced that distress or reputational damage alone is not sufficient grounds for anonymity in such cases.

Other police officers guilty of similar misconduct have been named and prosecuted. Former South Wales Police Inspector Joseph Jones was jailed for two months for misusing police records, while ex-North Wales PC Andrew Nuttall was sentenced to unpaid work for similar offences. Unlike them, Officer F’s identity remains protected, raising concerns about consistency and transparency in the handling of police misconduct.

Paul Fisher, Head of News at South Wales Police, responded to The Herald’s request for Officer F’s identity, stating that no media challenges were made before or during the hearing. However, the force has not clarified whether press organisations were proactively informed that anonymity was being considered, ensuring they had a fair opportunity to challenge the decision.

The Herald, alongside Wales Online, has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools to challenge the decision. Both organisations believe in the right to report and the importance of holding those in authority accountable.

This case raises fundamental questions about public confidence in policing. Open justice ensures that those who misuse their positions of power can be scrutinised by the press and the public. Without proper transparency, the public cannot be assured that police officers who abuse their authority will face meaningful consequences.

A PEMBROKESHIRE man who was found with hundreds of indecent images of children on his phone has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Swansea Crown Court heard that police arrested Lawrence Lambert, 26, of Llandissilio, following an investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police’s online child abuse unit.

Officers searched his home on August 17, 2022, seizing his iPhone 13 Pro Max. A preliminary examination at the scene uncovered a URL in the phone’s notes app that linked to a website storing illegal images.

Further analysis revealed Lambert had 250 Category A images—the most serious level of abuse—comprising 207 videos and 43 photographs. In addition, officers found 115 Category B and 134 Category C images. The site was accessed using an account registered with an email and phone number linked to Lambert, and traced to his home IP address.

In his first police interview, Lambert answered “no comment” to most questions but insisted the pornography he watched was “18 plus.”

He initially denied three charges of making indecent images of children and was due to stand trial on February 19. However, he changed his plea on the morning of the trial, admitting to all charges.

Defence solicitor Jon Tarrant said Lambert had no previous convictions but struggled to accept responsibility for his offending. He described him as “isolated” and said the case had had a “considerable impact” on him.

Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards told Lambert: “These are not just indecent images of children. These are images of children being sexually abused. By your actions, you supported that vile trade.”

Lambert was sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days.

He will remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years and is subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order.