Meet Tony: Barry’s New Community Safety Officer

02 January 2026

A friendly face on the high street, a listening ear in the town centre, and a visible presence where it matters most. That’s the focus of our new Community Safety Officer in Barry.

It’s also what drew Tony Parker to the position, bringing with him decades of experience as a former Police Officer and a strong belief that real community safety starts with everyday conversations.

Tony joined the police in the early 1990’s, working in a range of roles, including time spent in Barry where he supported and mentored young officers, and Cardiff Bay where he worked closely with partner organisations on multi-agency operations, including tackling rogue traders and supporting public safety during major events.

Alongside his policing career, Tony also spent a number of years working in schools, where he talked to young people about community safety issues such as knife crime, drugs, behaviour in communities, healthy relationships and coercive control.

Following his retirement from the Police, Tony continued in his passion for keeping communities safe through his work in schools delivering road safety and road cycling education to children.

Reflecting on what attracted him to the job, Tony said: “I immediately felt it was right for me. It felt like an opportunity to come back to what I enjoy most - working directly with people in the community.

“After meeting the team, it was a complete no-brainer. Everyone was welcoming, enthusiastic and clear about what they wanted to achieve with the role. I could also see a real gap between what’s happening in communities and what’s actually being reported to the council or the police.

“I see this role as an opportunity to be out there talking to people, listening to concerns, and encouraging residents to report issues so they can be dealt with properly. Ultimately, it’s about improving quality of life for everyone.”

Since starting his new role in late 2025, Tony says the response from the community has been very positive: “People see the Community Safety Officer role as approachable, someone they feel comfortable talking to. I’ve already been able to pass useful information on to partner organisations and the police, which shows the role is making a difference.

“I think simply having a high-visibility presence, particularly in town centres, helps people feel safer and more reassured. We know policing resources are stretched, and officers aren’t always able to be out on foot as much as they’d like.”

He added: “Having someone dedicated to engaging with the community fills an important gap. My background in policing gives me confidence in carrying out this role and understanding how best to work with the community and I genuinely believe this is such a valuable role.”

As Tony settles into his new role, you’re likely to see him out and about in Barry town centre, chatting with residents and businesses. If you do spot him, feel free to say hello - he’s always happy to stop for a conversation.