April 30 will see Dafydd Llywelyn, the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, embark on a 496-mile cycle ride. He will be visiting every police station in the force area, and taking on this challenge to launch his Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel charity.

He, along with a group of police officers, have all agreed to give up their own time to endure up to 12 hours a day in the saddle, and will also be raising money for Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel. They will be cycling around the force area for five days, and will complete the gruelling tour on May 4.

One of the priorities in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan is to keep our communities safe. In support of this, he has pledged to promote and support a range of crime prevention projects.

Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel will distribute and generate funds to be invested into the local community with the aim of crime prevention and reducing the fear of crime. The charity will focus on providing opportunities for community safety advice, and promoting tools for crime prevention such as diversionary methods. Enhancing provision of education in respect of community safety will also be at the heart of the charity. Initially, any grants awarded within the charity’s first year will predominantly focus on local youth projects.

Dafydd Llywelyn said: “As your elected Police and Crime Commissioner, the security and safety of residents is my priority. It’s really important to me that the generation of funds be invested into local communities whenever possible, therefore launching a charity focused on community safety and crime prevention was the next logical step. And so the idea for Safer Dyfed-Powys Diogel was born.

“I’m a keen cyclist, but haven’t had the opportunity to do as much as I’d like to in recent years. I also really value getting out meeting and hearing from as many people as possible, so I thought why not launch the charity by setting myself the challenge of cycling around the force area and visiting every police station on the route.

“I’m really grateful to the officers who, like me, are giving up their own time to support this and take part. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the charity, and to support my pledge to keep communities safe, through promotion and a range of crime prevention projects.

“I’m not underestimating the size of this challenge, and am training and getting as many miles in the saddle as I can. The prospect of cycling up to 12 hours a day is a little daunting, and no doubt there’ll be some soreness to contend with by day five of the ride! But I’m really looking forward to giving it my best.”

More information will follow as the ride draws closer. Please visit www.dyfedpowys-pcc.org.uk for updates or follow the Commissioner’s progress on Twitter @DafyddLlywelyn

If anyone wants to donate, a Just Giving page has been set up, please click on the following link https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/saferdyfedpowysdiogelach/tourdeforce2018