Powys rural crime officers awarded for 50 years of service
PC Charlie Jones, from Llandrindod Wells, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Wales Wildlife and Rural Crime Conference in Cardiff, having been an officer for more than 28 years and a rural crime officer since 2018.
She is an accredited wildlife crime investigations officer and is a member of several UK and Wales working groups involving Rural and Wildlife Crime and owns a farm in Llandrindod Wells
Charlie said she was honoured to receive the award, saying: 'It is an honour to be recognised at a national level for our work within the rural and wildlife sector. It highlights all the good we are doing in Dyfed-Powys to help combat rural crime.
'A lot of our work includes prevention, protecting and supporting victims of crime, rural communities and wildlife. Often our work can go under the radar as it is not traditionally considered frontline policing.
'I consider my role to be the link between the police and the farming community. I am here to support farmers and understand their needs and help give them a voice.
'Working in the farming community can often be isolating. Rural communities may often only speak to people at farmers markets or agricultural shows, so it is important to recognise the best way to reach out to them.'
PCSO Gary Gwilt, from Newtown, was also celebrated at the conference and received the Rural PCSO of the year award, having worked with Powys Police for more than 20 years and covered all of Powys for rural crime and assisted with leading on heritage crime investigations throughout the force.
He said: 'I didn't expect to have an award and I was incredibly shocked. I am very humbled to receive the award especially as it is part and parcel of my job. It is lovely to be recognised and for rural crime to be highlighted.
'I joined the police as I enjoy helping the community and I am a very community spirited person. I like being able to make a difference especially in the rural communities. We are helping to make a change and ensure the rural communities are represented more.
'Building trust and good relationships in these areas in particular are very important and I am glad that I have been able to make a difference.'
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