Latest news with #ProjectVigilant
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Multiple arrests after 'large scale disorder' in Haverfordwest town centre
Haverfordwest Police have carried out multiple arrests following an undercover operation. An operation called 'Project Vigilant' was carried out where police officers in plain clothes disguised themselves as members of the public. On Saturday August 2, officers patrolled the town with information about suspicious or concerning behaviour. During the evening, a large scale disorder was attended in Portfield Avenue, which had been reported by a number of people. Support was provided to local policing teams in dealing with a group of men fighting in the street, and a man was arrested for being drunk and disorderly. A driver was dealt with for driving without due care and attention after he was seen driving erratically in the town centre, while another man was issued with a section 59 notice for antisocial driving on Quay Street. Meaning if found to be driving in an antisocial manner again within 12 months, his vehicle can be seized. Officers also checked on the welfare of several potentially vulnerable women, this included two 18-year-olds who were found in the company of males in a secluded area. Officers ensured they were safe, explained the purpose of their work, and gave suitable safeguarding advice. Elsewhere, a man was arrested for possession of a class A drug after the plain clothed team observed him acting suspiciously. Detective Sergeant Vinny Barrett, who coordinated the operation, said: 'The aim of Vigilant is to ensure the safety of people primarily on a night out, and to prevent sexual or serious offences from taking place. 'In this case we were looking out for all those out and about in Haverfordwest on a busy evening, and to make sure everyone could enjoy safely. 'Prevention is a hugely important part of policing, and by working in teams of officers who look out for and disrupt potential criminal behaviour we can really make a difference in stopping potential offences before they happen.'
Powys County Times
29-07-2025
- Powys County Times
Teenager found with knife and balaclava at Rhayader Carnival
A teenager found with a knife, a balaclava and drugs during a police operation at Rhayader Carnival. Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed officers apprehended a 16-year-old at the weekend as part of a force-wide operation. This was one of many actions which took place at the carnival as part of Operation Vigilant which has seen police 'act as disruption teams to prevent sexual and violent offences from taking place'. Officers in Powys saw an opportunity to use Vigilant as a way of keeping carnival-goers safe in Rhayader on Saturday, July 19. Specially trained officers from Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion travelled to assist Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire and Breconshire response teams, and Radnorshire Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team in supporting the event. The force confirmed that during the day, a 16-year-old was spotted in possession of a knife by plain clothed officers and was later stop searched by uniformed colleagues. Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that these were seized, and that the teenager remains under investigation. Seven further positive stop searches were also carried out on under 18s who were found in possession of cannabis. In the main streets of Rhayader, a number of women who were considered vulnerable through intoxication were assisted by officers to find safer spaces in order to prevent them coming to potential harm. Police confirmed that 'a considerable amount of alcohol was also seized from underage drinkers throughout the evening'. Officers also confirmed that a young child who was found alone was returned to their parents. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app 'This was the first time we have held a Project Vigilant operation in Powys, and it was a great preventative success,' said Superintendent Chris Neve. 'The aim of Vigilant is to ensure the safety of people primarily on a night out, and to prevent sexual or serious offences from taking place. 'In this case we were looking out for all those attending Rhayader carnival, which is a busy day and evening, and our aim was to make sure everyone could enjoy safely. 'Prevention is a hugely important part of policing, and by working in teams of officers who look out for and disrupt potential criminal behaviour we can really make a difference in stopping potential offences before they happen.'
South Wales Guardian
22-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Dyfed-Powys Police rolling out safety scheme across force
Dyfed-Powys Police will now use disruption teams as part of Project Vigilant, which aims to prevent sexual and violent offences before they happen. Project Vigilant was first piloted in Carmarthenshire over the Christmas period and will now be expanded force-wide. Chief Inspector Dominic Jones said: "This was a new project for Dyfed-Powys Police that we trialled over the busy Christmas period. "It is an innovative approach to keeping vulnerable people safe while they're out in the evening that has been successful in other forces, and I am pleased to confirm that we will soon be adopting the project across all four divisions." The scheme uses plain-clothed officers trained to spot predatory behaviour, supported by uniformed colleagues who intervene to disrupt potential offences before they occur. Officers are deployed based on intelligence to ensure they are in the right place at the right time. The teams use behavioural observation training to identify individuals displaying predatory behaviour, allowing uniformed officers to step in when necessary. The pilot was funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner under the Serious Violence Duty. On one night during the pilot, plain-clothed officers helped safeguard a vulnerable woman who had become separated from her friends. Uniformed officers were alerted and ensured she got home safely. Chief Inspector Jones said: "Everyone should feel safe on a night out, and nobody should feel the need to change their behaviour to avoid becoming a victim. "By looking out for potential predators, we will ultimately be changing the behaviours of those who could cause harm and making our communities safer for all." Officers involved in the project have praised the training and approach. One officer said: "The input about what behaviours to look out for while on foot patrol is really beneficial to all, protecting members of the public by asking these individuals what they are doing, and being professionally curious. "That one interaction could stop a sexual assault as the suspect will know they're being watched." PCC Dafydd Llywelyn welcomed the wider rollout. Mr Llywelyn said: "I'm pleased to see Project Vigilant now being rolled out across all four divisions following a successful pilot over the Christmas period. "This is a proactive and intelligence-led approach that puts officers in the right place at the right time to identify and disrupt predatory behaviour before harm is caused."
