Police action day sees 160 cars stopped and 140 homes visited
POLICE carried out five drug warrants, stopped over 160 cars and visited 140 homes in one day as part of a clampdown on illegal activity in Carmarthenshire.
Officers from Dyfedpowys Police took part in a day of action of Wednesday, April 14, which targeted drug use, antisocial behaviour and traffic offences within the force area. Throughout the course of the day, officers visited shops, parks and railway stations to clamp down on illegal activity and engage with residents.
As part of the day of action, police and staff from Natural Resources Wales stopped more than 160 cars on the A484 at Loughor, where a number of vehicles were searched and warnings were handed out as officers checked for traffic and waste-carrying offences.
Dyfed-powys Police’s Inspector Mike Ross said: “With towns starting to open as lockdown restrictions ease, it is important that our communities see a visible policing presence. This day of action aimed to show people the work we are carrying out through face-to-face engagement, while also acting on intelligence to disrupt criminal behaviour.”
Five drug warrants were carried out throughout the county, with four proving positive for illegal substances. The occupants of the properties were dealt with by out-of-court disposals.
Alongside officers from South Wales Police, targeted patrols were also conducted at antisocial behaviour and drug use hotspots in Hendy and Pontarddulais, while highvisibility patrols to combat antisocial behaviour also took place in Ammanford town centre, as well as Betws and parks in Ammanford.
Mr Ross added: “We have acted on the concerns of residents in these areas, purposefully tackling areas we are aware of issues having been reported. Antisocial
behaviour and drugs use can blight communities, and we are doing all we can to crack down on these problems.”
In Carmarthen, a shoplifting operation was organised, while targeted antisocial behaviour patrols took place in the Brewery Road and Parkhall area.
Neighbourhood policing teams in Llanelli, alongside British Transport Police, looked for evidence of drugs supply to the town through the rail network and carried out a number of stop searches, which resulted in some substances being found.
These were dealt with through out-of-court disposals.
Work with Carmarthenshire Council wardens saw the Safer Streets initiative promoted, with over 100 homes visited and crime prevention advice offered to residents, while alcohol was seized from people breaching a public spaces protection order in Ger y Llan.
Mr Ross explained that it is hoped that the force’s high visibility has “assured residents” that officers are “working to keep communities
safe”.
He said: “We would like to thank all our partners for their help during the day, as well as all the teams involved across Carmarthenshire. We hope our high visibility has assured residents that we continue to be out and about tackling issues, providing positive engagement and working to keep our communities safe.”
Jonathan Jones, Natural Resources Wales environment team leader, added: “Joining forces with Dyfed-powys Police for another day of action allowed us to investigate and clamp down on illegal waste carriers and illegal waste sites in Carmarthenshire.
“This issue is not going away and neither are we. I hope that our continued partnership enforcement action sends a clear message to anyone involved in illegal waste trade that we will catch them, and we will take the necessary action to put a stop to their crime. Information on who needs to register and how is available on the waste permitting section of our website, or by calling 03000 653000.”