Plain-clothed police officers will act as “disruption teams” during nights out in the lead-up to Christmas in west Wales.
The initiative is part of a pilot project by Dyfed-Powys Police aimed at preventing sexual offences and violence against women.
Project Vigilant will see plain-clothed officers with specialist training acting as spotters during busy evenings, identifying those who appear to present a risk to others by displaying sexually predatory behaviour.
These concerns will be reported to uniformed police, who will intervene to disrupt potentially criminal behaviour before it happens.
The scheme is being trialled over three weekends in December, with the aim of rolling it out across the force area in the new year.
Ahead of the launch, 12 officers from the proactive policing team will receive specialist behavioural observation training from Thames Valley Police.
The training is designed to enhance their skills in risk management and encourage proactivity in spotting predatory behaviour.
Chief inspector Dominic Jones said: “This is an exciting new project for Dyfed-Powys Police, and one we’re looking forward to getting off the ground.
“We’re confident Project Vigilant will have a great impact in helping to reassure and protect women during the nighttime economy.
“Women should feel safe on a night out and should not feel the need to change their behaviour to stay so.
“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 officers will be deployed to patrol areas that are particularly busy during the evening and nighttime, looking out for potential predatory behaviour towards women.
Anyone flagged as a potential risk will be approached by uniformed police, who will assess the situation and take appropriate action if needed.
Their deployment will be based on intelligence to ensure officers are in the right place at the right time.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has funded the pilot under the Serious Violence Duty.
PCC Dafydd Llywelyn said: “As police and crime commissioner, I’m committed to ensuring the safety of women in our communities, particularly during busy night-time periods.
“Project Vigilant is an important step toward proactive and preventative policing, aiming to identify and disrupt predatory behaviour before any harm can occur.
“This initiative not only helps protect individuals but also reinforces our commitment to creating safer public spaces across Dyfed-Powys.
“I’m proud to support this pilot and look forward to its impact on our communities.”