POLICE in Narberth are appealing for witnesses after a violent altercation broke out on High Street last Thursday, 5th September 2024. The incident, which occurred around 3:45pm, involved several men fighting in the street.

As a result of the brawl, a 21-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment. Police have since charged 29-year-old Dean McCartney with grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident. He appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Saturday, 7th September, where he was remanded in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for 7th October 2024.

Authorities believe there were numerous witnesses to the incident, as captured by CCTV footage, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Those who can assist are encouraged to contact police online at this link, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101. For those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, contact can be made via text on 07811 311 908.

When contacting police, please reference incident number 220 of the 5th September.

Alternatively, anyone wishing to remain anonymous can reach out to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or visiting their website at crimestoppers-uk.org.

The police urge the public to come forward with any information, no matter how small, to assist in the investigation.

POLICE and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dafydd Llywelyn recently visited Dyfed-Powys Police’s Force Control Centre (FCC) to see the substantial investments and improvements made as part of his commitment to enhancing public safety. These developments follow last year’s precept increase, with further improvements underway following this year’s uplift.  

Since January 2024, the FCC has welcomed 48 new starters, as part of a major recruitment drive funded through PCC Llywelyn’s Precept Uplift. The additional staff, hired over five consecutive intakes, has helped ensure a more resilient and responsive FCC, which plays a critical role in coordinating the force’s response to incidents across Dyfed-Powys.  

With the increase in personnel, the FCC has undergone substantial upgrades, including the installation of new workstations, desks, chairs, and IT equipment to accommodate the growing team. A key element of the improvement plan is the launch of the new Omnicompetent Training Programme, which aims to create multi-skilled operators who are trained in all FCC roles, including Contact Handling, Digital Desk Operations, CCTV Operations, Radio Dispatch Support, and Radio Dispatching. By merging these previously separate roles, the force will be better positioned to flexibly manage incoming demand and incidents more effectively. The training programme is expected to take around 18 months to fully implement. 

In addition to staff increases and training, the FCC now boasts a fully equipped second control room, a direct response to the findings of the Manchester Arena Inquiry. The additional control room ensures that in the event of a major incident, the force can run operations seamlessly from within the FCC while maintaining normal business in the primary control room. This additional space, equipped for 12 personnel, provides a collaborative environment for police, ambulance, fire, and other emergency service partners to work together during critical incidents. 

Another upcoming enhancement to the FCC is the introduction of a state-of-the-art Telephony and Radio platform, expected to go live later this year. This new system, with intelligent call-routing options, will further improve the force’s ability to handle calls for service efficiently. 

PCC Llywelyn expressed his pride in the progress made so far and reiterated his commitment to delivering on the promises made to the public. He said “The improvements we’ve made to the Force Control Centre are a key part of my pledge to ensure we are investing in public safety and modernising our approach. The additional resources, advanced technology, and new ways of working will enhance our ability to serve the public and respond to emergencies more effectively.” 

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl while she slept, following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

Kevin Stenson, 66, faced two historical charges of sexual assault of a girl under 13 by penetration, relating to incidents alleged to have taken place in 2018 or 2019. He denied both charges.

During the trial, the court heard from prosecution counsel Helen Randall, who outlined that the alleged victim had not disclosed the accusations at the time of the supposed offences. The court was told that the girl spoke out approximately two years later, confiding in a member of her school’s pastoral care team. Following this conversation, a report was made to the police.

Despite the accusations, the jury unanimously found Mr Stenson not guilty of both charges after careful deliberation.

In his closing remarks, Recorder Christian Jowett formally acquitted Mr Stenson, stating, “Mr Stenson, you are now formally acquitted of both counts and you are now free to leave the dock.”

The judge also extended his thanks to the jury for their thorough consideration of the evidence, as well as expressing appreciation to both the prosecution and defence counsel for their handling of the case.

Mr Stenson left the court a free man after the jury’s decision.