Dyfed Powys Police praised over April search (From South Wales Guardian)

Dyfed Powys Police praised over April search

12:00am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News

THE chairman of Carmarthenshire county council has praised the efforts of Dyfed-Powys Police officers in their search for missing youngster April Jones.

Cllr Sian Thomas used last week’s full council meeting to express her gratitude to Dyfed Powys officers who have “been working under huge pressure” in the bid to find the five-year-old Machynlleth schoolgirl.

The council’s deputy leader, Cllr PamPalmer, said she had been proud to witness the work of Dyfed- Powys officers – “first in hope and then in despair”.

“They have raised the profile of Wales and of Dyfed- Powys Police,” said Cllr Palmer.

“I have been proud to say ‘Dyfed-Powys Police is my police force’.”

Cllr Gwyn Hopkins – chairman of Dyfed-Powys Police Authority – said the efforts of local officers had been “unbelievable”.

“Very many of them have worked long hours unpaid,”

he said.

“We should all know that the police in Dyfed Powys are among the very best in the UK.”

Council leader Kevin Madge added: “They have gone beyond the call of duty.”

Cllr Hopkins also praised the many officers from other UKforces who had joined the search for April, who went missing on October 1 while playing with friends near her home.

Specialist officers and volunteers continue to search the area, but police have since admitted they have all but given up hope of finding the youngster alive.

Mark Bridger, a 46-yearold neighbour of the Jones family, has since been arrested and has appeared in court charged with April’s abduction and murder, and with perverting the course of justice.