Crime

£800k of funding secured for initiatives designed to crime across Dyfed-Powys

Published

10 months ago

March 8, 2024

THE OFFICE of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys has secured funding of nearly £800,000 from the Home Office’s Safer Streets 5 Fund, by working closely with respected partners to develop several robust interventions.

The OPCC submitted a total of five funding bids to the Safer Streets 5 fund, totalling almost £1million. However, funding cuts applied by the Home Office have meant that the revised award is now £795,481.

The five bids included a number of intervention initiatives that between them address Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), acquisitive crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Collaborators include Local Authorities and specialist sector partners including domestic abuse organisations.

The initiatives include;

Schools Theatre Bystander in Education programme aimed at students aged 14-18, which is designed to shift social norms through challenging undesirable behaviour;
Vulnerability Awareness and Bystander training, aimed at individuals aged 16-23 in Higher and Further Education by raising awareness and understanding of social norms related to VAWG;
Man Culture/Man Ally programme aimed at men over the age of 24, with the intention of creating a network of men comprising police, partners, and business leaders in the community who can help reduce VAWG by becoming active bystanders and providing a practical tool to increase feelings of safety;
Walk Safe/Stay Safe App to complement the existing Street Safe Online reporting tool within force. It enables users to plan different routes or find a place of safety. The app allows users to put in their estimated time of arrival and if they do not arrive in time, their emergency contacts get alerted to their location. There is also a Tap Safe alert system that allows people to send a signal to their contacts if they are in trouble;
Crimestoppers Combating Unacceptable Behaviours programme, aimed at improving understanding and confidence amongst the public on preventing and/or responding to VAWG and to prevent VAWG in public spaces. This intervention also considers the community impact of VAWG;
My Safe Place, an intervention developed by Carmarthenshire County Council to provide target hardening support for Domestic Abuse Victims, and a Bystander Intervention Plus collaboration initiative between West Wales Domestic Abuse Service, Carmarthenshire Domestic Abuse Services, Montgomery Family Crisis Centre and Threshold concentrating on 38 areas across Dyfed-Powys. This intervention incorporates Neighbourhood Policing Teams to ensure early intervention;
Additional CCTV for Aberystwyth town in Ceredigion;
Connected Communities, led by Pembrokeshire County Council that will provide education surrounding ASB, particularly focussing on environmental crimes;
The Women’s Centre led by The Nelson’s Trust, which will see an intervention to create a safe space for female victims and/or perpetrators to receive appropriate support to address their underlying needs and reduce reoffending.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said; “Securing eight hundred thousand pounds of funding for intervention initiatives targeting violence against women and girls, acquisitive crime and anti-social behaviour represents our relentless commitment to the safety and well-being of our communities.

“This investment underlines our dedication to work collaboratively with local partners to find proactive solutions, and I’m looking forward to seeing the impact of these initiatives as we work to ensure safer and more resilient communities for all”.

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

22 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

Crime

Sex offender jailed for breaching court order

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Court Reporter

A SEX offender from Wolfscastle has been jailed after using fake names on WhatsApp and attempting to access a social media app, breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Luke Rogers, 38, was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to two breaches of the order, which was imposed following his 2020 conviction for sexual activity with a child.

Under the SHPO, Rogers was prohibited from using unregistered internet-enabled devices or creating online profiles under false names. Prosecutor Ryan Bowen told the court that police monitoring software installed on Rogers’ phone detected activity in group chats under three aliases last November.

Further investigation revealed Rogers had also searched for the MeetMe app on four occasions and admitted using it. Rogers, described by Mr. Bowen as “apologetic,” was arrested, and his phone was seized.

The court heard Rogers has a history of 17 convictions for 35 offences, including breaching court orders and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Defence barrister Olivia Rose said Rogers had cooperated fully with police and expressed a desire to change. She argued that his breaches stemmed from a misunderstanding about permitted names and emphasized his efforts to seek support.

Despite these mitigating factors, Judge Catherine Richards noted Rogers’ pattern of reoffending and stated: “The reality is I can only pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

She expressed hope that Rogers would take advantage of post-sentence supervision to break the cycle of offending.

Crime

Police renew appeal to find Darren Markes from Pembroke Dock

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE in Pembrokeshire are renewing their appeal for information to locate Darren Markes, 46, from Pembroke Dock. He is wanted in connection with a domestic assault.

Markes is believed to have links to the Portsmouth and Sussex areas.

If you have seen Darren Markes or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the police through one of the following methods: