DYFED-Powys Police has a new drug prevention team.

Julie Muckle and Constable Alan Thomas have taken up their posts in the force's Drug Prevention Unit and will be working with other agencies towards reducing the harm caused by substance misuse in mid and west Wales.

Alan has many years experience of delivering drug awareness messages to young people via schools and youth groups in Carmarthenshire, while Julie has maintained a keen interest in drug issues since her time as a police officer in Pembrokeshire.

Alan said "For many years, the traditional police response to the illegal drugs problem was simply to enforce the law, but it's much wider than that these days. The Welsh Assembly Government's substance misuse strategy does not just talk about stifling the availability of illegal drugs, it covers all aspects of drug use, including treatment for users and the effects on families, communities and people of all ages. Julie and I will be part of Substance Misuse Action Teams in the four counties within Dyfed-Powys, working with partners such as the Probation Service, Health Promotion, Education and the agencies providing treatment."

Julie added: "Drug use has an effect on all of us and we are looking forward to contributing to the good work already going on, not only in this area, but also across South Wales through the Tarian project - we are working more closely than ever before with the other three Welsh police forces and that's the way it should be."

Apart from the strategic role, Alan and Julie will be raising awareness of drug issues.

"While there is a lot of drugs education work done with young people in schools, we find that parents and adults lack the confidence to talk about drugs because they don't know enough abut the subject," said Alan. "We will be going out and about to talk to business organisations, social groups, parents' associations - in fact, any group wanting to know the facts about drugs. If you'd like to know more, please get in touch with us."