New Community Messaging App – Information Relevant To Where You Are Not Just Where You Live

Following on from the roll-out of DPCM, our new community messaging system, earlier this year we’re now going live with the DPCM App. Sending up-to-the-minute information on where you are, not just where you live. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The App’s very first messages will be downloading live from a virtual cloud high above the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd on Monday (18th July) and signals a new way of doing things for Dyfed-Powys Police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Launching the App, T/Assistant Chief Constable Pam Kelly, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This fast-time targeted messaging system is another tool on an officer’s belt. DPCM enables us to send messages very quickly to people in specific locations and, when it comes to safely policing large events like the Royal Welsh, Wales Ironman and the Hay Festival for example, the system really comes into its own.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

T/ACC Kelly is especially enthusiastic about the opportunities DPCM brings in helping us to safeguard our communities and in preventing and detecting crime. She said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If we become aware of a spate of crimes in a community, the App will enable us to send a message which will hit the phones of all those in the affected area. We can ask people to be alert to suspicious activity around them or, use the system to undertake virtual house-to-house enquiries.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s an exciting system and I’m optimistic about the potential it holds for Dyfed-Powys Police. It needs followers for it to be successful though, so I urge people to download it now.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Community messaging systems are on the increase in many police forces around England and Wales. The system used by Dyfed-Powys allows for very local and relevant messages be sent directly to subscribers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as being a tool available to officers in dealing with crimes and large-scale events, DPCM has an important role to play in building communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Dyfed-Powys is the largest geographical policing area of Wales and England – and with that come significant pockets of isolation. We also have a high proportion of elderly people – around 24%.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Through DPCM, individuals or groups can cast nets around properties and locations of their choosing, meaning they can capture relevant information distributed by the police specific to an area of interest to them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I urge people to take advantage of this, to pass messages to friends and family who are not online, to inform community groups and – where there aren’t any already established – be inspired to set up new ‘watches’.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Vulnerability through isolation is a real concern, but DPCM provides an opportunity for us all to engage and work together differently.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For further information on DPCM please visit www.dpcm.co.uk , or speak to officers from your local Neighbourhood Policing Team. If you’re visiting the Royal-Welsh Show this week, you can find more information at the Dyfed-Powys Police stand and we’ll be at the Pembrokeshire County Show in August (16th – 18th). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Visit your smartphone app store and search ‘Dyfed Powys’ to download the app. Alternatively you can scan the QR codes below. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​