A specialist police operation aimed at preventing sexual and violent offences during nights out is being rolled out in Powys.

Project Vigilant, which uses plain-clothed officers trained to spot predatory behaviour alongside uniformed officers who step in to disrupt it, was piloted by Dyfed-Powys Police in Carmarthenshire over the Christmas period.

Following its success, the initiative is now being expanded across all four police divisions in the force area – including Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.

Under the scheme, plain-clothed officers patrol nightlife hotspots to identify individuals exhibiting concerning behaviour, such as isolating potential victims from their friends. Once spotted, uniformed colleagues are called in to intervene before an offence takes place.

Chief Inspector Dominic Jones said: “Everyone should feel safe on a night out, and nobody should feel the need to change their behaviour to avoid becoming a victim.

“By looking out for potential predators, we will ultimately be changing the behaviours of those who could cause harm and making our communities safer for all.”

The initiative is based on a model developed by Thames Valley Police, who trained Dyfed-Powys officers in behavioural observation techniques.

During the pilot, officers successfully safeguarded a vulnerable woman who had become separated from friends, ensuring she was taken home safely. On another occasion, a driver seen behaving erratically was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and possession of ketamine.

CI Jones said the approach also helps detect other types of crime.

There are no signs the tactic simply displaces predatory behaviour to other areas, police said.

The pilot was funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) under the Serious Violence Duty

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “This is a proactive and intelligence-led approach that puts officers in the right place at the right time to identify and disrupt predatory behaviour before harm is caused.”