Ammanford police has welcomed its newest inspector to the fold.

Insp Stephen Williams joined Dyfed-Powys police at the age of 20 and has now served 28 years based in Brecon, Llanelli, Carmarthen, Ammanford and the force headquarters.

Insp Williams has worked in a number of specialist departments including CID, drug squads, surveillance units, major crime, traffic and intelligence as well as being seconded to the Metropolitan police to support the investigation into the 2005 Pan London bombings and to Suffolk police to support the investigation into the murder of five young women in 2006.

He said: "I have recently taken over the role of temporary Inspector tasked with the responsibility for the policing of Ammanford , Llandeilo , Llandovery, Cross Hands and the villages and communities surrounding these towns.

"I have a team of seven sergeants currently working with me and we supervise and support the front line officers of those areas. These officers and PCSO’s who police our communities ensure it remains one of the safest communities to live in the UK and our role as the supervisory team is to ensure that we maintain our level of performance and engagement with the communities.

"We have to be mindful of financial restraints which have affected all areas of public service and the police is not immune to that. As such we have to ensure we provide a quality service and prioritise the matters that matter most such as personal safety, property and reducing the fear of crime."

Insp Williams will be in post for the next six months.

He added: "As a team we will work together to ensure the communities of the Ammanford section are treated with dignity and get a first class service.

"Should you have concerns about any matters in the community please let us know and ring 101 or Crimestoppers who will pass on your information to the police anonymously.

"Our local neighbourhood policing teams hold surgeries around the community and we ask you take the opportunity to engage with our officers who are a big part of your community. Dyfed-Powys is quite unique in that a large proportion of its officers police the area they were brought up and live in. When we say we police and protect these officers really do protect the communities they love and grew up in."