Herefordshire, Powys, Monmouthshire and parts of Gloucestershire covered (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire, Powys, Monmouthshire and parts of Gloucestershire covered

8:40am Monday 15th June 2009

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TRAVELLING criminals planning a visit to the county be warned – the net is closing in.

A massive police operation involving four separate forces from Herefordshire and its neighbouring counties is putting paid to the perception that border areas are easy targets.

It was evident that we needed to bring in other forces to assist. Criminals were using borders because once they got away, our hands were tied”

PC Owen Dillon

The message is that, contrary to what some might think, police presence in rural, cross-over areas is not only a reality, it’s fast becoming a criminal’s nightmare.

For the past two years West Mercia Police in Herefordshire have been working closely with their colleagues from Dyfed Powys, Gwent and South Wales to improve communication channels and share intelligence so that night-trippers out to commit crime will fail to make it home again.

The development, known as Operation Ohio, is the brainchild of Brecon police officers, including PC Owen Dillon, who became frustrated at the lack of continuity between areas.

“It was evident that we needed to bring in other forces to assist,” he said. “Criminals were using borders because once they got away, our hands were tied.”

But Dyfed Powys Chief Inspector Steve Hughson, also behind the operation, said just as criminals paid no attention to boundaries, neither would the police in future.

“We will take the fight to criminals. Wherever they are, that’s where we’ll be,” he said.

The main aim is to root out serious crime – involving theft, illegal drugs, alcohol or vehicle licensing issues – using different methods to those employed by independent forces.

For three nights a special radio channel controlled by Dyfed Powys is made available so that all officers, whatever the home force and wherever their location, can communicate.

In addition nearly all staff, including Herefordshire officers, are briefed together in Brecon and provided with a single list of target individuals created from intelligence shared during previous Operation Ohios.

The result is a 40-strong super force that not only has a local knowledge spanning around 60 miles from north to south, and east to west, but also the resources to police it properly.

Up to 25 cars – some armed – are posted out to all major routes in each force area. Locally, the A438 between Hay and Hereford, the A40 from Ross-on-Wye, the A49 to Ludlow, the A44 to Leominster and Kington, the A465 to Abergavenny and the A4113 between Ludlow and Knighton are all monitored between 8pm and 8am.

Hay and Clyro were also particular areas of interest this time following a spate of burglaries the night before.

With six operations in two years, discrepancies like radio call signs differing between areas are inevitably a factor, but those involved seem optimistic that, overall, the effects can only increase as further operations take place and officers get to know each other better.

As Dyfed Powys duty inspector Mark Davies told those present at the briefing: “Operation Ohio is a golden opportunity to get out there and make a difference.”

n Meanwhile, youngsters living in Hay-on-Wye and other cross-border areas can have their say about local policing throughout June and July.

An online questionnaire has been launched to give residents aged 18 and under the opportunity to talk about services in Powys that affect them.

Those aged 11 or older can visit dyfed-powys.police.uk anytime before July 13 to make suggestions regarding workshops, discussion groups and more interactive activities ahead of a specialist young people’s website being launched in the autumn.

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