An innovative police operation to disrupt sexual and violent offences is being rolled out across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys, following a successful pilot in Carmarthenshire over Christmas.

Project Vigilant employs specially trained teams: plain clothed ‘spotters’ using behavioural observation training to spot predatory behaviour, and uniformed colleagues who will then be called to step in and disrupt potentially criminal activity before it happens.

Chief Inspector Dominic Jones said: “This was a new project for Dyfed-Powys Police that we trialled over the busy Christmas period. It is an innovative approach to keeping vulnerable people safe while they’re out in the evening that has been successful in other forces, and I am pleased to confirm that we will soon be adopting the project across all four divisions.

“Everyone should feel safe on a night out, and nobody should feel the need to change their behaviour to avoid becoming a victim. By looking out for potential predators, we will ultimately be changing the behaviours of those who could cause harm and making our communities safer for all.”

Training has been carried out by Thames Valley Police, with officers learning about the typical actions predators take to approach potential victims and separate them from their friends. Once this behaviour is flagged to the disruption teams, uniformed officers can make their presence known in the area, to deter any offences.

CI Jones added: “There’s evidence to show that in cases where forces have deployed a greater number of uniformed officers to hotspot areas, perpetrators dispersed to other locations. The key here is in using plain clothed officers to spot the concerning behaviour and identify individuals to their colleagues who can step in. There has been no evidence of this technique resulting in issues moving to a different area.

“Another benefit of the project is that while it specifically aims to reduce the number of sexual and violent offences taking place, it also results in a wider range of crimes being detected – which is something we have also experienced.”

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner funded the pilot under the Serious Violence Duty. On one evening during the pilot phase, plain clothed officers helped safeguard a vulnerable woman who had been separated from her friends. They told uniformed officers that she needed help, and they ensured she was taken home safely.

On another occasion, plain clothed officers witnessed a male driver revving his car engine and driving erratically. Uniformed officers were called to assist, and on speaking to the man they smelled alcohol on his breath. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, as well as being in possession of ketamine.

Officers who have worked under Project Vigilant have praised the initiative. One of them said: “The input about what behaviours to look out for while on foot patrol is really beneficial to all, protecting members of the public by asking these individuals what they are doing, and being professionally curious.

“That one interaction could stop a sexual assault as the suspect will know they’re being watched.”