MEET Pembrokeshire’s new rural crime team – a pair of policing staff responsible for investigating crime in rural areas.

PC Gerwyn Davies and PCSO Jude Parr come from farming and horsing backgrounds in the county, with knowledge of the issues these communities face.

From investigating reports of agricultural theft, to helping ensure the mental health of farmers is supported, Dyfed-Powys Police’s newest rural crime team is set to tackle a host of issues in Pembrokeshire.

“I’m a farmer’s son, I was born and bred in north Pembrokeshire and I worked on farms while I was at school,” said PC Davies.

“I have the background knowledge of the issues faced by farmers, and having been a response officer for 14 years, I’d now like to be a face for this community and have the chance to make a difference.”

PCSO Parr has worked for Dyfed-Powys Police for 13 years – with nine of those spent on the rural neighbourhood policing team, covering a wide farming and coastal area.

She said: “It’s all about forging links with farmers and the rural community. The trust had gone, and it’s essential that we build that back up. It’s about getting them to report to us and to talk to us.”

The Pembrokeshire rural crime team was officially launched at the Pembrokeshire County Show in Haverfordwest on Wednesday, August 15, where they spent time meeting farmers, visitors and rural organisations.

A Ceredigion Rural Crime team has already been launched, and the Pembrokeshire division will deal with issues ranging from sheep worrying and livestock theft, to offering crime prevention advice and support.

They will also work closely with agencies including the National Farmers’ Union, the Farmer’s Union of Wales and the Welsh Government.

The launch comes hot on the heels of an announcement last week by NFU Mutual that rural crime has cost more than ever in Wales, totalling £1.9million across the nation in 2017.