HMP Frankland prisoner says Ian Huntley is a 'self-righteous p***' and inmates want to hurt him

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/hmp-frankland-prisoner-says-ian-33499126

Police and Crime Commissioners to be abolished in England and Wales by 2028

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood branded the system a “failed experiment”, pointing to figures showing that fewer than one in five voters can name their commissioner.

There are currently 37 elected PCCs across England and Wales, a model introduced 12 years ago by former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron. Under the reforms, when commissioners’ terms end in 2028, their responsibilities will transfer to elected mayors or council leaders.

“A dangerous accountability vacuum” warns South Wales PCC

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools said she was disappointed by the announcement, warning that it risks weakening transparency at a time when public trust in policing is already under strain.

“Police and Crime Commissioners have provided a clear line of accountability and scrutiny. Removing that role without consultation risks creating a vacuum in oversight, just when communities need reassurance that policing is responsive and transparent,” she said.

Dyfed‑Powys commissioner says communities will lose their voice

Dyfed‑Powys PCC Dafydd Llywelyn also criticised the decision, describing it as unexpected and poorly handled.

“This announcement came without consultation and undermines the direct link between communities and policing. PCCs have worked hard to hold forces to account and to represent local priorities. Abolishing the role risks losing that connection,” he said.

Government insists reform will free up frontline funding

Policing Minister Sarah Jones told MPs the model had “failed to live up to expectations” and “not delivered what it was set up to achieve.” She argued that public understanding of PCCs’ role remained low despite efforts to raise their profile.

The Home Office said the savings would allow for an extra £20m of investment in frontline policing every year — enough to fund around 320 constables.

Divided response from policing bodies

While the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) voiced disappointment, the Police Federation of England and Wales welcomed the move, saying the money should be used to fund experienced officers.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said the reforms could bring “stronger, more integrated local leadership” if implemented well.

What happens next for Wales

The current 37 PCCs will remain in post until 2028, when their responsibilities will transfer to elected mayors or council leaders. In Wales, the UK Government has said it will work with the Welsh Government to ensure arrangements reflect “the unique circumstances of Wales.”

#dafyddLlewellyn #dyfedPowysPolice #emmaWools #homeOffice #homeSecretary #policeAndCrimeCommissioner #shabanaMahmoodMp #southWalesPolice

Shabana was on BBCRadioNews expressing a professional opinion!
Oh, it's just a HoC recording. 🙁

#HomeSeceretary #TheHouseOfCommons #Maccabi #AstonVilla #Birmingham #BirminghamSafetyAdvisoryGroup #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #WestMidlandsPolice #TelAvivPolice et cetera

Ifan Charles named preferred candidate for Dyfed‑Powys Police Chief Constable

The decision follows a three‑day interview process at Police Headquarters, with the final choice now set to go before the Police and Crime Panel for confirmation on 7 October.

Recruitment process concludes

PCC Dafydd Llywelyn said the selection process had been “robust and transparent,” involving key stakeholders from across the force area.

“I am pleased to announce Temporary Chief Constable Ifan Charles as my preferred candidate for the role of our Chief Constable at Dyfed‑Powys Police,” he said.

“From the outset, it was vital to select a Chief Officer with the vision, determination, and resilience needed to lead our Police Service. Ifan performed exceptionally throughout the assessment process, demonstrating strong leadership and a deep understanding of policing.”

Career in Dyfed‑Powys Police

Ifan Charles joined Dyfed‑Powys Police in 2004 and has served in a variety of roles across CID and uniformed policing in all four counties. His career has included leading firearms incidents and managing serious crimes, with a focus on supporting victims.

In 2022, he completed the Senior Police National Assessment Centre and Strategic Command Course, before being appointed Assistant Chief Constable. He became Deputy Chief Constable in July 2024 and has been acting as Temporary Chief Constable since the resignation of Dr Richard Lewis earlier this year.

Looking ahead

PCC Llywelyn said: “Ifan has an outstanding track record in tackling crime and managing community policing. I very much look forward to working with him to ensure our communities remain safe and to develop a service that is effective today and ready for the challenges of the future.”

He also thanked staff, officers and partners who supported the recruitment process.

The appointment will now be considered by the Police and Crime Panel at a confirmation hearing on 7 October 2025.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Dyfed-Powys Police Chief announces retirement
Dr Richard Lewis steps down after leading the force through major reforms and crime reduction.

Dyfed‑Powys and South Wales Police buck national decline in coercive control charges
New figures show Welsh forces leading the way in tackling coercive and controlling behaviour.

Thousands of shoplifting cases go unsolved in South Wales and Dyfed‑Powys
Data reveals more than 20 incidents a day closed with no suspect identified across the two force areas.

Carmarthenshire police officer honoured for heroic rescue from burning car
PC Jonathan Tatam praised for bravery after pulling a man from a blazing vehicle near Cynwyl Elfed.

#ChiefConstable #DafyddLlewellyn #DyfedPowysPolice #IfanCharles #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #PoliceAndCrimePanel

Thousands of shoplifting cases go unsolved in South Wales and Dyfed‑Powys as charge rates remain low

House of Commons Library data obtained by the Welsh Liberal Democrats shows that in 2024‑25, 6,734 shoplifting investigations in South Wales and 946 in Dyfed‑Powys were closed with no suspect identified. That’s the equivalent of more than 21 incidents a day going unsolved across the two force areas combined.

South Wales Police recorded a charge rate of 25.3%, while Dyfed‑Powys Police charged or summoned suspects in just 13.6% of cases. Across Wales, 13,077 shoplifting investigations were closed without a suspect — around 35 a day.

The Liberal Democrats say the figures highlight the scale of the problem and the impact on local businesses, warning that shoplifting is “not a victimless crime” and that staff are increasingly at risk from persistent offenders.

David Chadwick MP, Welsh Liberal Democrat for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, said:

“These shameful figures show the impact years of cuts to our police by the Conservatives had on society. This Labour government must now right these wrongs and crack down on shoplifting. Shoplifting is at epidemic levels in Wales now, with many business owners feeling like it has all but been decriminalised and many retail staff increasingly being put in harm’s way.”

Cllr Sam Bennett, the party’s Senedd candidate for Gwyr Abertawe (Swansea & Gower), added:

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; it does a huge amount of damage to our local businesses and those who work in them. It’s time for the government to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners and invest the money in frontline policing instead. That way we can get more bobbies on the beat and stop this lawlessness on our high streets.”

The party is calling for the role of Police and Crime Commissioners to be abolished, with the funds redirected to frontline policing.

Wider picture

Retail trade bodies have previously warned that rising shoplifting rates are linked to organised crime as well as opportunistic theft, and have called for tougher enforcement alongside better support for shop workers.

#DavidChadwickMP #DyfedPowysPolice #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #prosecution #SamBennett #shoplifting #SouthWalesPolice #WelshLiberalDemocrats

Undercover police disrupt street fight and safeguard vulnerable women in Haverfordwest

A major undercover policing operation in Haverfordwest has led to multiple arrests, the disruption of a street fight, and the safeguarding of vulnerable women — as Dyfed-Powys Police expands its Project Vigilant scheme across West Wales.

The operation took place on Saturday 2 August and involved plain-clothed and uniformed officers working in tandem to identify and disrupt potentially predatory or violent behaviour in the town’s nightlife hotspots.

Street fight and drug arrest

Officers responded to a large-scale disorder on Portfield Avenue, where several men were reported fighting in the street. One man was arrested for being drunk and disorderly, while others were dispersed by police teams.

Elsewhere, a driver was stopped for erratic behaviour and dealt with for driving without due care and attention. Another man was issued a Section 59 notice for antisocial driving on Quay Street — meaning his vehicle can be seized if he reoffends within 12 months.

The plain-clothed team also arrested a man for possession of a Class A drug after observing suspicious behaviour in the town centre.

Safeguarding vulnerable women

Officers engaged with door staff, street pastors and members of the public throughout the evening. Several potentially vulnerable women were identified and supported, including two 18-year-olds found in a secluded area with a group of men. Officers ensured their safety and provided safeguarding advice.

Detective Sergeant Vinny Barrett, Dyfed-Powys Police, 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. 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.”

Project Vigilant expands forcewide

Originally piloted in Carmarthenshire over Christmas, Project Vigilant is now being rolled out across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys. The initiative uses plain-clothed ‘spotters’ trained in behavioural observation to identify predatory behaviour, with uniformed officers stepping in to disrupt potential offences.

Chief Inspector Dominic Jones, Dyfed-Powys Police, 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.”

The scheme is supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner under the Serious Violence Duty.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “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.”

Project Vigilant was first developed by Thames Valley Police and has since influenced national practice. Dyfed-Powys officers received specialist training in behavioural observation and risk management before deployment.

#DafyddLlewellyn #drugs #drunkAndDisorderly #DyfedPowysPolice #fighting #Haverfordwest #Pembrokeshire #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #PortfieldAvenue #ProjectVigilant #QuayStreet #streetFighting #undercoverPolice

Police to crush e-scooters and off-road bikes used anti-socially within 48 hours

Perpetrators of anti-social driving face having their cars, e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours under stronger powers proposed by the UK Government. Currently, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle, making it easier for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and with a limited deterrent to repeat offending.

The measures to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

Communities across Swansea have been plagued by people riding offroad bikes in an antisocial way.

Police say they have received an “increase in calls regarding off-road bikes in and around the Loughor and Pontarddulais areas in recent weeks”.

Just last week, Swansea Bay News reported photos taken by a local resident that showed five offroad motorbikes being driven through Loughor, with riders – some of which are wearing balaclavas rather than helmets – pulling wheelies and driving in a dangerous manner.

Residents say this is a “massive problem” and that offroad bikes “ride on pavements, footpaths, play areas and roads and have no regards for their own or others safety.”

Gower MP, Tonia Antoniazzi says she supports the UK Government’s crackdown.

Ms Antioniazzi said: “It’s sad that it’s come to this, but people have the right to feel safe in their streets. If off-road bikes and scooters are being deliberately driven in residential roads to cause a nuisance and intimidate people tough action is needed. I welcome what the government is doing to support the police to tackle antisocial behaviour and prevent reoffending”

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools said: “These new powers send a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities in Wales: swift justice will be delivered and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Sales of e-scooters and off-road bikes have rapidly increased, so today is an important step in tackling more serious crime in Wales, with the vehicles often used to facilitate drug dealing, organised acquisitive crime and serious violence.”

#antisocialBehaviour #Loughor #offRoadBikes #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner #SouthWalesPolice #ToniaAntoniazziMP #UKGovernment

'A #PoliceAndCrimeCommissioner has been criticised for saying “protest groups” in the wake of the #Southport stabbings are focused on “the desire to protect Britain’s sovereignty, the need to uphold British values and in order to do this stop illegal #immigration”.

#DonnaJones, a #Conservative party politician who has been #Hampshire police and crime commissioner since 2021 and also chairs the #AssociationOfPoliceAndCrimeCommissioners'
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2024/aug/04/rioting-anti-immigration-violence-uk-news-latest-updates
#ToryLegacy #ToryRiots