Tackling violent crime

Carmarthenshire CSP is working with Dyfed Powys Police to deliver the Police’s strategy to reduce violent and alcohol related violent crime throughout the county, create a safer community and provide the public with a first class quality of service.

The strategic overview includes:

• Working alongside partners in order to manage the night time economy and protect families and individuals from domestic violence including effectively using the Special Constabulary and volunteers to support operational officers and partners.
• Protecting members of the public from harm by identifying and managing violent persons and reducing re-offending. This involves using the Integrated Offender Management (IOM) scheme to reduce the risk of harm to communities by concentrating on offenders who cause most harm ensuring effective bail management of offenders
• Using newspapers and local radio as well as social media such as Facebook and Twitter and the On Line Watch Link (OWL) scheme to raise awareness of issues, involve the community and reassure the public.

The Community Safety Partnership supports the police tactical action plan which prepares for specific or seasonal periods throughout the calendar year which experience increased offences through the increased consumption of alcohol.

These periods include the Festive period, international rugby matches and bank holiday weekends.

The police put such a policy into action for a month over Christmas and the New Year and are pleased with the results.

It included tackling alcohol related crime in and around licensed premises, town centre intelligence-led targeted patrols, police issuing Section 35 notices as an early intervention, to tackle potential crime and anti social behaviour and to prevent violence escalating, CSP manager ensuring best possible evening CCTV operator cover during peak periods.

Inspector Aled Samuel said: “We are pleased with the approach taken. Christmas passed with no major concerns or issuing showing that our partnership is working.”

Tackling violent and alcohol-related crime is one of the priorities for the coming year set out in the CSP’s annual report.

The Partnership is committed to working in partnership to try to introduce a street pastor scheme in Llanelli to help reduce alcohol-related problems, and working with licensed premises and other partners to tackle problems in town centres at night relating to alcohol and drug related crime and anti-social behaviour.