Crimestoppers Project Diogel asks residents be vigilant to prevent organised crime

THE charity Crimestoppers is today launching a fresh campaign across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys to highlight the issue of organised crime and is asking for your help by reporting any information about suspected criminal activity anonymously.

The new digital campaign highlights that whilst the Dyfed-Powys area is one of the safest places to live in the UK, criminals are attempting to expand their activities into its counties. Whether trying to establish ‘County Lines’ drug dealing networks or set up cannabis factories, these activities, often linked to organised crime groups, can exploit the vulnerable and cause harm to communities and legitimate businesses.

Last month, seventeen people were jailed after a successful operation targeting drug dealers in Mid Wales, where more than ten thousand pounds worth of heroin and crack cocaine was seized.

Crimestoppers is working with a range of local partners, who together form ‘Project Diogel’, which aims to help prevent serious violence and organised crime through awareness-raising with communities and encouraging them to be vigilant and speak up about crime concerns. Community information from residents and businesses, whether to the authorities or anonymously via Crimestoppers, is vital to stopping criminals in their tracks.

Detective Superintendent Estelle Hopkin-Davies, Chair of the Dyfed-Powys Serious Violence and Organised Crime Board, known as ‘Project Diogel’, said:

“Whilst Dyfed-Powys is one of the safest places to live in the UK, we are not complacent about the broad and determined reach of organised crime across rural Wales. We’re supporting Crimestoppers’ campaign to help keep Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys safe by preventing serious organised crime.

“Through Project Diogel, we’re working with our partners to make Dyfed-Powys a hostile place for organised crime, and to protect our communities. We want to put a stop to drug dealing and crimes that are fuelled by it, such as drug manufacturing, modern slavery and exploitation, burglary and theft, weapons and violence. Your information can help prevent the exploitation and damage these criminals inflict on our residents and communities. Our plea is that you identify when something isn’t right in your communities and tell us about it. If it feels wrong, it probably is. You don’t have to be certain, just concerned.”

Ella Rabaiotti, Crimestoppers Wales Manager, added:

“Dyfed-Powys is a beautiful place to live and work, however, there are some who wish to spoil this. We’re working with a range of organisations across the region as part of ‘Project Diogel’- a partnership approach to preventing and stopping serious violence and organised crime. However, we cannot do this without the help of residents and businesses; everyone has a part to play in preventing crime.

In particular, we’re encouraging property landlords, letting agents and those running hotel and guest accommodation to be alert to criminals using their premises. Signs to spot may include:

Offers to pay upfront in cash; appears affluent but wants to rent an inexpensive property; unable to provide landlord or employment references; prefers to pay rent in cash without good justification and prevents you from inspecting your property when given reasonable notice

Anyone with information or suspect an organised crime, please let our charity know and they can speak safely to our Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111 or use our untraceable online form. Informants will remain 100% anonymous. Always.