Barry’s Dog Owners Are Invited To Join The New PAWS On Patrol Scheme

South Wales Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) & Safer Vale have teamed up to launch a scheme – PAWS on Patrol – in the Vale of Glamorgan, which will encourage dog owners to be the eyes, ears and paws of the community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme will be launched on Saturday 22nd October at Barry Island on the Western Promenade. The event will include the opportunity for local dog owners to give their dog a health check and be microchipped by Barry & Boverton Vets; it will also offer them an opportunity to discuss any issues that may be of concern to them and for South Wales Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Safer Vale to offer advice and guidance on a number of topics that will improve Community Safety & wellbeing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The PAWS scheme will ask dog owners, while out with their four-legged companions to report any suspicious behaviour, fly tipping or deliberate fire setting they may come across. They won’t be expected to intervene in any incidents, but simply report and gather any evidence. Those involved will receive a welcome pack when signing up to the scheme which includes some “freebies” for their dogs and Community Safety literature. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Superintendent Martin Jones commented, “We are encouraging dog owners across Barry to sign up for Paws on Patrol. This isn’t about people stepping in and taking action themselves, it is simply about providing us with information, so together, local communities can help make neighbourhoods an even better place to live. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We believe that hundreds of dog walkers in the town can play a very important role in helping to enhance our communities. Dog walkers spend a lot of time in their communities at different times of the day and evening so are very likely to spot when something out of the ordinary is happening.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Group Manager Garry Davies, Head of Community Safety and Partnerships at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said, “This is a great scheme and SWFRS is delighted to be part of it alongside our partners in South Wales Police. As a Service, we believe that collaborative working keeps our communities safe through raising awareness and reducing risk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Dog owners are able to get to areas that our crews and patrols cannot, which means that we have eyes – or paws – everywhere to ensure we continue to reduce anti-social behaviour in our communities, not only in Barry but across South Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​