Commissioner gives residents a voice

DYFED-POWYS POLICE and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon has been to Tenby to discuss with residents the recent changes to the force and some of the issues around the town.

On February 21 the commissioner spent a day in the town as part of a series of ‘Your Voice’ days and he met up with business people, victims of crime, police officers and PCSOs, older people and other residents.

Matters discussed included Mr Salmon’s work to help develop a police force to meet modern needs across Dyfed-Powys, his news that the force would soon have 30 new police officer posts and his desire to see more imaginative thinking in preventing youth crime.

Mr Salmon said: “The best outcome I can have in my role is the prevention of crime and I’ve heard of a few Tenby issues that I’ll be following up on.

“These include the possibility of extra powers for PCSO’s in relation to parking fines, dog fouling penalty notices and orders which can see individuals removed from a public location for 24 hours.”

The Commissioner’s visit to Tenby began with a town centre walkabout with PCSO’s Sarah Smith and Andrew Griffiths.

Over refreshments at Caffe Vista, he talked to David Petersen of West Wales Animal Aid and Doug Waters of the Tenby and District Licensed Victuallers Association (LVA).

At the Salvation Army coffee shop in Upper Park Road, he met Major Martyn Clements and friends of the church.

Mr Salmon hosted a public surgery which attracted four individual visitors for private meetings at the Fourcroft Hotel then spoke with officers at Tenby Police Station.

Mr Salmon said: “This was a people-focused day for local people to air their views. As their voice in crime and policing I need to understand their thoughts and, to those who missed out, I say ‘Please contact me through my Office.’