THE chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police was back on the beat during visits to Aberystwyth and Llanelli.

Mark Collins went out on patrol with Neighbourhood Policing Team PCSOs and officers, meeting business owners and members of the public in both towns.

Being out on patrol is nothing new to Mr Collins, who started out at Dyfed-Powys Police as a special constable in Carmarthen in 1987, and has since served in all four counties at every rank to superintendent.

When asked what brought him out on the beat in his current role, he said: “When I was appointed chief constable I made the commitment to improve victim satisfaction and confidence in policing, and I think a big part of that involves me going out and seeing the places we police and the people we serve.”

On Friday, Mr Collins began his day at Aberystwyth Police Station, where he took part in the Ceredigion division and force daily management meetings, before presenting station enquiries officer Graham Jones with a certificate for 50 years of service.

He then headed to the Glanyrafon Industrial Estate, where a number of units on the estate have suffered break-ins over the past few weeks.

Mr Collins offered advice to business owners on protecting their property and encouraged them to install CCTV cameras to enhance security.

From there, he visited the Penparcau Community Forum with PCSO David Goffin and spoke with trustees about their work in the area.

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