South Wales Police

Police in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have made 31 arrests and recovered drugs with a street value of more than £43,000 during a day-long operation.

The operation was the latest to be held by police following the launch of the Heroin Ruins Live campaign in October aimed at encouraging members of the public to come forward with information on those who deal and supply drugs.

It saw officers execute search warrants at numerous addresses across the western area of the force, as well as carry out patrols in known hotspot areas.

Over 5,000 leaflets were delivered to residents to inform them of the police activity in their area and to appeal for them to provide information to the police.

Drug support workers worked alongside officers to promote rehabilitation services, while council street cleaners worked to clear up discarded needles.

Among the 31 arrests, 19 were for possession with intent to supply drugs.

The value of the drugs seized was £43,370 and includes heroin, cannabis and amphetamine. A cannabis factory was also discovered at New Road in Skewen which had 65 mature plants. Three vehicles were also seized from suspected criminals.

Around £2,400 in cash was also recovered and police will instigate Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings to seize the assets of those involved in drugs supply.

Detective Inspector Jason Davies, who led the operation, said: “This operation has seen us build on the success we have already had as a result of the Heroin Ruins Lives campaign.

“It was the latest in a number of many planned events to target those who are clearly impacting on their neighbours and local communities as a result of drug supply.

“I would like to thank those who have already provided us with information and ask that they continue to do so and maintain the momentum of the positive outcomes to date.

“The police activity right across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot has sent out a clear message to those who supply drugs that there is no hiding place, we will seek you out and bring you to justice.”

Anyone with information can contact the police on 01792 450631 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

South Wales Police is appealing to the public for information to trace a missing person.

Catherine Barnes – known as Kate - aged 32 years, was last seen on Wednesday 4^th January near Swansea train station.

Officers are concerned for her welfare and safety and are asking anyone who has seen her to contact them.

The missing person is described as 5ft 7ins in height with sandy coloured hair which may currently be dyed black. She has a British flag tattoo on her wrist and a dragon tattoo on her calf.

She was last seen wearing a black top, blue jeans, a grey jumper and wedged boots. She speaks with an American accent and has stayed as various addresses in the Swansea, Pontardawe and Milford Haven areas in recent weeks.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Catherine should contact police in Swansea on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thursday 1st December 2011

The CPS has today decided to discontinue proceedings in the trial of eight former police officers accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Simon Clements, the CPS reviewing lawyer in the case said: “The allegations against these men arose out of their investigation into the murder of Lynette White. Three men were wrongly convicted in 1990 of her murder and had their convictions quashed on appeal.

“These were extremely serious allegations that men who were then serving police officers had fabricated evidence to frame innocent people. We were satisfied at the time that this was a case which should go before a jury for trial.

“However, at the request of the judge on 28 November, a review by the prosecution of a certain section of the unused material has uncovered that some copies of files, originally reviewed but not considered discloseable at that time, were missing. This information related to complaints made by one of the original defendants to the IPCC and another complaint relating to the investigation. On inquiry, it was found that these copies had been destroyed and no record of the reason for their destruction had been made by the police officers concerned. This was the first time that prosecution counsel or the CPS had been made aware of this destruction.
 
“Although this relates to copies and not original files, it is now impossible to say for certain whether the copy was in fact exactly the same material that had been provided by the IPCC, reviewed and then destroyed. The destruction of those copies, along with the non-recording of the destruction, meant that it would be impossible to give meaningful re-assurances that no other material had been treated similarly, thus undermining the defence’s confidence in the disclosure process.

“Given the stage reached in the proceedings, the correct course of action is to offer no evidence, thus inviting verdicts of not guilty and ending the trial.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, QC, has been consulted and is extremely concerned about the outcome. Both he and the Chief Constable for South Wales Police have agreed that there must be a full and detailed review of the circumstances in which this decision has had to be made, and that the review will have the full support and cooperation of South Wales Police.

Sent on behalf of Deputy Chief Constable Colette Paul

23 Tachwedd 2011

Neges gan Heddlu De Cymru

Parthed: Diwrnod o streicio cenedlaethol – Dydd Mercher, 30 Tachwedd 2011.

Hoffai Heddlu De Cymru gymryd y cyfle hwn i dawelu meddyliau aelodau’r cyhoedd ynghylch cynlluniau wrth gefn sy’n cael eu rhoi mewn lle wrth baratoi ar gyfer y diwrnod o streicio cenedlaethol arfaethedig.

Rydym yn deall yn iawn fod aelodau’r undeb am ddangos eu cefnogaeth yn ystod y streicio arfaethedig, a rhagwelir y bydd nifer o staff cymorth yr Heddlu yn streicio ar y diwrnod hwn.

Mae systemau cadarn mewn lle i sicrhau y gallwn gynnal y safon sy’n ddisgwyliedig o wasanaeth brys, drwy barhau i ymateb yn effeithlon ac effeithiol i alwadau 999 a materion brys eraill.

Meddai’r Dirprwy Brif Gwnstabl Colette Paul,

“Rydym yn deall yn iawn fod aelodau’r undebau yn dymuno dangos eu cefnogaeth yn ystod y streicio arfaethedig.

Fodd bynnag, ein dyletswydd ni fel gwasanaeth Heddlu, fel yr arfer, yw darparu a chynnal plismona o ansawdd uchel y gall y cyhoedd ddibynnu arno.

Mae diogelwch y cyhoedd yn parhau yn brif flaenoriaeth, ac rydym yn gwneud y cyfan y gallwn i sicrhau ein bod yn lliniaru unrhyw effaith y gall y gweithredu diwydiannol ei hachosi.

Gall hyn olygu y bydd angen i swyddogion yr Heddlu gyflawni tasgau a wneir fel arfer gan staff cymorth yr Heddlu, yn ôl yr angen.

Hoffwn gymryd y cyfle hwn i dawelu meddyliau’r cyhoedd na fydd llawer o effaith ar ein gwasanaethau yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.”

South Wales Police has arrested a 55-year-old man in connection with the Gleision Colliery incident in Cilybebyll on 15th September 2011.

The man was arrested at an address in the Swansea Valley on Tuesday morning on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. He is currently in custody at Port Talbot Police Station.

Four men – Philip Hill, aged 44, Charles Breslin, 62, David Powell, 50 and Garry Jenkins, 39 - died after becoming trapped in the mine.

Their families and community leaders were updated with news of the arrest earlier today.

Police are working with the Health and Safety Executive to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Examination of the scene is complete and the mine is now closed and under the control of the Coal Authority.

Detective Chief Inspector Dorian Lloyd of the South Wales Police Specialist Crime Team is the Senior Investigating Officer leading the investigation into the deaths.

DCI Lloyd said: “The arrest follows consultation between the South Wales Police, Health and Safety Executive and the Crown Prosecution Service to review the evidence gathered to date.

“We continue to work closely with the bereaved families throughout this process and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the communities affected by this incident for their continued support and patience.

“We will do everything possible to fully understand how these four men lost their lives.”

Police in Swansea are launching a hard hitting campaign to highlight the devastating consequences of heroin use in the city.

The Heroin Ruins Lives Campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact the class A drug is having on users, their families and friends, and the wider community on a daily basis.

Police hope that their message will encourage people to come forward with information about the supply of heroin and other drugs, particularly dealers who prey on and target Swansea.

The campaign features a powerful poster and flyer depicting the headstone of a deceased heroin user. Since 2007 there have been 61 drug related deaths in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Detective Inspector Jason Davies of Swansea Central Police Station, who is leading the campaign said

“Swansea is recognised nationally as having a significant heroin misuse problem and this makes the area vulnerable to infiltration by organised crime groups intent on supplying heroin on our streets.”

“The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of the impact heroin has on the user, those closest to them and the community as a whole.”

“Without the support of the community we are often one step behind in the fight against heroin supply and those closest to the user are often best placed to provide information on the supply networks.”

“With your support, together we can respond to the needs of the community by acting dynamically on this intelligence, we can better the quality of life for the family of the user by reducing heroin availability which in turn offers opportunities for them to support the user to engage in rehabilitative programmes”

Latest figures reveal that police have detected 188 drug trafficking offences between September 2010 and 2011, compared to 91 for the same period the previous year.

In the past 18 months, more than £1.2 million worth of Class B drugs have been seized, while since April 2010 more £500, 000 worth of Class A drugs have been recovered.

Since April 2010 prison sentences totalling more than 200 years have been handed down by the courts for drug trafficking offences, whilst 13 organised groups have been disrupted after they were caught infiltrating Swansea to supply heroin.

Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias Divisional Commander of the Western Division of South Wales Police said

“ It has been well documented that Swansea has a significant drugs problem, however we are fully committed to working with our partners, not only to target those who bring misery to our communities but also to support the users and their families who are all to often the forgotten victims2

“This is a hard hitting campaign, which I a sure will be impactive in raising awareness of the consequences of heroin misuse, which touches the lives of hundreds of families every day”

The campaign has the full support of the Swansea Drugs Project and encourages anyone has concerns for drug users to contact them.

Ifor Glyn Director of the Swansea Project said ;

“Heroin misuse is one of the biggest problems facing communities in Swansea. The number of deaths over the years is shocking and the cost to families and friends unbearable.”

“As an agency we have been seeing an increase in the numbers seeking help because of heroin misuse for a number of years with an increase of 40% in the last year.

“If this initiative helps reduce the harm caused by heroin to users, their families, children and the community in general, it should be supported. Our doors are open to anybody who wants help to overcome their problems”.

Neath Port Talbot Police Open Day - Sunday 17th July 2011 held at Neath Police Station

Thursday 14th July 2011

Police in Neath Port Talbot will throw their doors open to the public this weekend.

Neath Police Station will host its annual open day on Sunday 17th July in conjunction with G4S custody services.

Local officers will be on hand to show what happens to prisoners in custody and how crimes are solved using the latest forensic technology.

The ever-popular police horses from the force mounted section will be in attendance, as will traffic cars and off-road motorbikes.

Police dogs will display their crime-fighting talents, while youngsters will be given the chance to win prizes by solving a crime.

The fire service will be on hand with a display of the devastating effects of a chip pan fire and community safety partners will highlight the work being done to keep Neath Port Talbot safe.

Inspector Mark Lenihan said: “The event has been held for the past three years and has been a huge success and I would once again encourage people to come along and see what goes on at their local police station.

“Thankfully, most people only get to see the inside of a police station when they are involved in a crime but this event gives everyone an insight into just some of the most interesting aspects of local policing.

“There are loads of competitions, prizes and giveaways for youngsters and the grown-ups.”

There will be an opportunity for visitors to have a souvenir of their day by having their fingerprint and photograph printed on a special card.

Information:

Admission to the open day is free and is being held at Neath Police Station in Gnoll Park Road, Neath , on Sunday 17th July from 10am until 4pm.

are you our 2011 champions?

The action packed ‘it’s a knockout’ event is coming to South Wales Police Sports Field on Sunday 24th July 2011, to help raise funds for the charity tŷ hafan.

South Wales Police are supporting the event, and players from the police rugby team will be taking part.

Registration now open

Registration for the event is now open and you can get involved online www.tyhfan.org/knockout, by calling 029 2067 2065, or emailing events@tyhafan.org

Activities

Whether it's a day out with your friends or family, or a team building exercise with your group or organisation, you are sure to enjoy the thrill and excitement, laughter and light hearted competition. Teams go head to head on giant inflatable games. The games are designed so it's not just the fastest and fittest who always win, thought and skill are certainly required, as our teams discovered.

Read on for more details about some of the activities you could be taking part in...

• The Wedge* is shaped like a big lump of cheese. Contestants in groups of three have to climb up the gang rope and then slide down the other side (sitting down only) to complete a puzzle.
• The Equaliser* involves carrying a giant egg and spoon across the inflatable without dropping the egg. Once you do this, you will be handed a piece of a rubik cube which you must assemble to gain points.
• Air Dancer Tunnels* will see contestants lined up for a team relay race through foam-filled tunnels. You have to high-five your team mate to signal that the coast is clear before you enter.
• Bouncy Basketball* is a speed game where the contestants have to race one another one by one to score the points. Contestants are set off on the whistle in groups of three.
• Ski If You Can Do This* is a lot harder than it looks. Contestants have to line up in three's. The first group keeps going for approximately 6m, then your team mates swap over and off they go.
  
  One last change over and if you pass the winning line first you could be champions.

*Please note these activities are subject to change

More information on tŷ hafan

tŷ hafan offers comfort, care and support for life-limited children and young people and is dedicated to improving the quality of life of their whole family.

Registered charity number 1047912

Residents of Neath Port Talbot now have access to a range of information and advice on a new Community Safety Partnership website.

Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership has developed a new site aimed at signposting residents and organisations to local, regional and national advice on general and specific community safety issues.

This dedicated site, www.safernpt.org, provides information on a wide range of projects and initiatives that are taking place in fields including anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, fire safety and crime prevention.

It also contains an up-to-date listing of all community safety events and a feed to the South Wales Police Western Division Twitter site @swpwest which will be used to issue information and advice of a more urgent nature.

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Ali Thomas, said: “Ways of communicating with residents is changing and we recognise the need to embrace technology as a means to inform local people. I’m pleased to see the Partnership taking a modern approach to engage with residents.”

Mike Goldman, Community Safety Manager for Safer Neath Port Talbot, added: “As a partnership we rely on our communities reporting problems and working with us to resolve them, we felt it was important to invest in a site which provides up to date, easy to access information on just what we are doing locally.”

Inspector Mark Lenihan of Safer Neath Port Talbot added: “Many crimes are opportunist and we hope the new website will give residents practical advice on how they can prevent becoming a victim of crime.

“The instant Twitter feed allows us to issue up-to-the-minute advice to residents should we need to issue a warning on emerging crime trends.”

www.safernpt.org is also an important link to the many sites of the Safer Neath Port Talbot partner agencies so more specific information on anything from council, policing, health and locally commissioned service providers.