Dyfed Powys Police are in the process of further developing their schools liaison programme across the force area. The Force has recently appointed an experienced teacher as their schools liaison and youth co-ordinator.
Maria Williams commenced her duties at the community safety department in Force Headquarters, Carmarthen on September 22 and her role will include preparing police officers to deliver inputs within schools.
Maria, who is Welsh speaking, lives in the Swansea valley and during her student days attended Trinity College Carmarthen where she obtained a bilingual teaching qualification. She has experience of teaching in both English and Welsh medium schools and is also a Welsh tutor at Swansea College delivering evening classes to adults. Maria has also worked as a special constable in Neath.
Superintendent Mel Evans, head of force community safety said: "We are committed to implementing a more structured schools liaison service across the whole of the Dyfed Powys area and Maria's appointment is crucial in assisting us to achieve this aim. I would emphasise that this is very much a partnership initiative supported by our colleagues in local authority education departments and also the Welsh Assembly Government. In order to enable effective delivery of the programme we are appointing a total of 10 full-time schools liaison officers. These will be uniformed police officers whose main responsibility will be to engage with local headteachers and to offer their assistance in delivering aspects of the PSE curriculum.
"We do of course recognise that a lot of good work has been and also is currently being undertaken but I think it's fair to say that the maximum potential has not been previously realised owing to competing operational demands on staff. We have recognised this as an organisation and dedicating officers to the role should enable provision of a more professional service which ultimately can only benefit us all and in particular young people within our communities".
Maria Williams, the newly appointed schools liaison and youth co-ordinator said: "I'm really excited by this opportunity. I'm looking forward to working together with partners on a multi-agency basis to implement a schools liaison programme. I am extremely impressed by the enthusiasm of colleagues within both education and the police and share their ambition to making this a success".
For further information please contact the Dyfed Powys Police Community Safety Department, Force Headquarters, Carmarthen on 01267 226462.