CARDIGAN’S Neighbourhood Policing Team has rolled out several initiatives in the first quarter of 2018.

The RuralWatch Preseli South Ceredigion Facebook site, set up to help combat rural crime and raise awareness of issues, continues to go from strength-to-strength with well over 1,200 people signed up since its January launch.

The marking of farm property with SelectaDNA to deter thieves has also proved popular, with well over 50 farms now protected and police community support officers (PCSOs) are now a familiar sight at local marts.

“The RuralWatch scheme has taken off and we are now hoping to roll it out to further areas in the near future,” said Sgt Delme Jones.

“We are getting good feedback from members of the public and a lot of private messages.”

PCSOs are also working closely with officers from the roads policing unit, performing speed checks especially outside local schools and engaging with schoolchildren.

Community speedwatch initiatives at Newcastle Emlyn, Boncath and St Dogmaels are also being implemented and where speeding problems are identified, ‘GoSafe’ camera vans can be deployed.

Officers are also working to raise awareness of scams among more vulnerable people, working alongside Friends Against Scams. Officers visit various groups to get the message across.

Trail cameras have been installed at the wildlife centre at Cilgerran to deter anti-social behaviour and have also been used to help reassure a victim of a burglary who felt vulnerable after being targeted.

PCSO are going into local primary schools in conjunction with St John’s Ambulance to teach year 5 pupils basic first aid.

There has also been a crackdown on underage drinking.

Sgt Jones said: “We recently carried out a test purchasing operation where two pupils from a local school who were under-age were sent in to pubs in Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn and asked to be served alcohol. Encouragingly, they were correctly refused service in every pub.

“It is something we are aware of and will be continuing to monitor.”