11 Apr 2019
In the early hours of Monday October 30 2017, a horrific fire engulfed the house at Pointyn Farm, Llangammarch Wells, and a father and five of his young children tragically perished as a result of it. Miraculously, there were three child survivors of the fire. The police officers and the fire service were faced with extremely challenging conditions at the scene in the days and weeks following the incident.
The nature of the fire was so intense, the scene presented significant difficulties in respect of the recovery of remains and took considerable time. But the family were the absolute priority for all partners working at the scene from the very beginning, and the dignified and respectful recovery of all the deceased within the property was always the focus of their endeavours.
Despite the heart-breaking outcome of the incident, the effective method that all agencies worked together, during the response to the fire and in its aftermath, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of each agency’s staff and volunteers.
Today (Thursday April 11) a Commendation Ceremony is taking place at Dyfed-Powys Police HQ to recognise the actions of police officers and staff from Gwent, South Wales and Dyfed-Powys, as well as staff from partner agencies including the Fire Service, Army, HM Coroner, Home Office Pathologist, UKDVI, Powys County Council and Cellmark Forensics. Representatives from these agencies are being represented here this evening.
Chief Constable Mark Collins said: “The officers and staff being awarded here today with certificates of commendation have displayed bravery, professionalism and a commitment to duty during a difficult and challenging incident when five children and their father tragically lost their lives following a fire at their home in Llangammarch Wells, Powys. I would like to extend my personal gratitude to all the award recipients for the courage shown and their achievements are a reminder to us all of the level of work, effort and support provided during and following this tragic incident.
“Additionally, I am very aware of the tremendous support given by both family and friends and I recognise the important part that they play in the lives of today’s recipients to enable them to continue to provide a first class service to the community. In traumatic incidents such as this, their support can make all the difference.
“I know the family who lost their loved ones in such distressing circumstances on this occasion were extremely grateful for the efforts of all those involved, and have expressed it publicly. They were always the number one priority for everyone being presented with a certificate of commendation this evening.”
Those being presented with Certificates of Commendation
Senior Identification Manager
Chief Superintendent Tony Brown – South Wales Police
Deputy Senior Identification Manager
Detective Superintendent Gary Phillips – Dyfed-Powys Police
Scene Evidence Recovery Manager
Inspector 3369 Rob Gwynne-Thomas – South Wales Police
Disaster Victim Identification Teams
Dyfed-Powys Police DVI Team Members
Inspector Ashley Brice
Police Sergeant 1095 Gavin Phillips
Police Sergeant 252 Shane Davies
Police Constable 1003 Wayne Clark
Police Constable 154 Thomas Draycott
Police Constable 345 James Lang
Police Constable 410 Matthew Palmer
Police Constable 536 Liz Kempster
Police Constable 501 Neil Rutter
Police Constable 916 Bob Beaman
Police Staff Jessica Orchard
Gwent Police DVI Team Members
Detective Inspector Nicola Williams
Detective Sergeant 1227 Steven Thomas
Police Sergeant 544 Ewen Smith
Police Constable 767 Kevin Donovan
Detective Constable 87 Lesley Cheverton
Police Constable 1528 Lloyd Davies
Police Constable 944 Rebecca Hamilton
Detective Constable 1279 Ceri O’Brien
Detective Constable 102 Jonathan Parkinson
Mr. Peter Gibbons
South Wales Police DVI Team Members
Police Sergeant 3347 Fiona Haggerty
Police Sergeant 4922 Kelly Thomas
Police Sergeant 998 Malcolm Burr
Police Sergeant 2460 Robert Elmer
Police Constable 3589 Chris Howells
Police Constable 644 Roger Bickerstaff
Police Constable 3989 Clair Griffith
Police Constable 1334 Angharad Willmett
Police Constable 3991 Paul Hall
Police Constable 5710 Sally Crouch
Police Constable Gerard McKay
Police Constable 3835 Jason Forkin
Police Constable 4414 Nicola Lewis
Police Constable 4708 Carl Johnson
Police Staff (51929) Joanna Gibson
Police Staff (54985) Jenna Watts
Police Staff (55189) Joanna Laver
Police Staff (55182) Donnia Evans
Police Staff (52882) Nerys Davies
Police Staff (54637) Angharad Davies
Forensic Imaging Officer
Principal Forensic Imaging Officer Russell Gardner – South Wales/Gwent Police
Forensic Anthropologists
Julie Roberts - Cellmark Forensics
Linda Ainscough - Cellmark Forensics
Dominic Monaghan - Cellmark Forensics
Senior Investigating Officer
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Slevin – Dyfed-Powys Police
Deputy Senior Investigating Officer
Detective Inspector Adam Ellis – Dyfed-Powys Police
Family Liaison Officers
Detective Sergeant 280 Zoe Powell - Dyfed-Powys Police
Detective Constable 885 Michelle Beeson - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Constable 971 Ailsa Lawton - Dyfed-Powys Police
Interviewing Officers
Detective Sergeant 527 Christine Beaton - Dyfed-Powys Police
Detective Constable 714 Rebecca Saunders - Dyfed-Powys Police
Crime Scene Manager (CSM)
CSM Kath Suttie - Dyfed-Powys Police
Crime Scene Investigators(CSI)
CSI Rachel Wall - Dyfed-Powys Police
CSI Liz Crockett - Dyfed-Powys Police
Fire Investigators
Paul Ryder - Cellmark Forensics
David Hancock - Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service
Andrew Richards - Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue Service
Fire Service Urban Search and Rescue Team
Team award – To be presented on behalf of the Team to:
Watch Manager Kevin Hughes
– Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
BCU and Scene Management Gold Commander
Superintendent Jon Cummins - Dyfed-Powys Police
BCU and Scene Management Silver Commander
Chief Inspector Matt Scrase - Dyfed-Powys Police
Scene Logistics Co-ordinator
Police Constable 41 Lyndon Heard - Dyfed-Powys Police
Scene Preservation and Logistical Officer
Police Community Support Officer 8073 Gareth Morris
- Dyfed-Powys Police
Scene Preservation and Logistical Officer
Special Constable 7048 Tyler Griffiths - Dyfed-Powys Police
Health and Safety Advisor
Mr. Steve Bergiers - Dyfed-Powys Police
Powys County Council Building Control
Mr. Ian Maddox - Powys County Council
Mr. Nigel Davies - Powys County Council
Mr. Alastair Edwards - Powys County Council
Occupational Health
Tracie McKelvie - Dyfed-Powys Police
Jayne Timmins - Dyfed-Powys Police
Force Chaplaincy
Reverend Tom Evans - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Mortuary Operations Co-ordinator (PMOC)
Detective Inspector Jacqui Lovatt - Dyfed-Powys Police
Deputy Police Mortuary Operations Co-ordinator
Detective Inspector Cameron Richie - Dyfed-Powys Police
Mortuary DVI Team
CSI Mark Ponting - Dyfed-Powys Police
CSI Alex Morgan - Dyfed-Powys Police
CSI Rebecca Robinson - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Constable 213 Hannah Thomas - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Constable 478 Matthew Harris - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Constable 437 Kate Griffiths - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Constable 660 Richard Williams - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Constable 345 Jamie Lang - Dyfed-Powys Police
Police Constable 916 Bob Beaman - Dyfed-Powys Police