Enhanced support for young people as police schools service extended to further education
Dyfed-Powys Police is improving the support it provides to children and young people by extending its school service beyond primary and secondary schools into further education.
The force has designed a programme of sessions focussed on relevant issues such as violence against women and girls, exploitation and grooming with the aim of strengthening early intervention, reducing harm and helping to prevent children and young people from entering the criminal justice system.
This approach forms part of a wider shift towards addressing vulnerability earlier, tackling the root causes of harm and reducing offending within our younger communities.
Dyfed-Powys Police lead for prevention Superintendent Chris Neve said: “In 2025, we made a commitment to take a stronger crime prevention approach through the release of our prevention strategy.
“Since then, we have broadened the scope of this work to increase our focus on children and young people.
“There is already a well-established schools policing programme in place focussed on children at primary and secondary school, and we are now building on that to ensure we reach young people aged 16-plus.
“Fewer victims and fewer offences ultimately means safer communities, and less demand on policing, which allows us to provide more support to the people who need us most. Most importantly, it is about improving people’s opportunities to live positive and successful lives.
“By looking at crime through a prevention lens, we’re building a culture that addresses underlying causes, and breaking cycles of crime and harm.”
From this term on, every further education campus across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys will have a named PC or PCSO as their specific point of contact.
Four new further education outreach officers will also work closely with staff and students in all colleges and sixth forms across the force area, preparing and delivering crime prevention and education sessions.
Superintendent Neve added: “The issues that lead children and young people to commit crime and antisocial behaviour are complex – and not for policing alone to solve.
“That’s why we’re working closely with agencies like local authorities to ensure the development of partnership work is done sustainably, ensuring a longer-term, collaborative problem-solving approach for all children and young people.”
As part of their package of changes, Dyfed-Powys Police will be recruiting youth prevention officers to work within local authority youth justice teams to strengthen partnership working between police, councils and partner agencies, safeguarding children and young people.
The force is also trialling changes in custody, strengthening decision-making around the arrest of children and young people to ensure it is the right course of action, and adding additional layers of scrutiny over every decision to arrest someone under 18.
Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “One of the commitments I have made within my 2025-29 Police and Crime Plan is to improve services for children and young people through a child centred approach.
“I am pleased that Dyfed-Powys Police is introducing a range of new measures, including extending the current police schools service, so that children and young people in further education have access to important crime prevention information and support from dedicated trained staff.
“I also welcome the joint commitment that Dyfed-Powys Police and local authority Youth Justice Services have made towards a strengthened partnership approach to youth prevention and early intervention.”
The changes will be rolled out across the Dyfed-Powys area, with further developments planned as the work progresses.
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Article Date: 08/10/2026