Panel rules groin touch was deliberate but avoids dismissal

A DYFED-POWYS POLICE officer found to have deliberately touched a man’s groin in a St Davids club has been allowed to keep her job.

PC Zoe Williams was given a final written warning for two years after a misconduct panel ruled her actions amounted to gross misconduct following an incident at the RAFA Club over the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2024.

The off-duty officer had been drinking with friends before entering the club, where CCTV captured her making two deliberate movements towards a man’s groin and making contact at around 1:20am.

Williams denied the allegation, claiming any contact was accidental and to the man’s midriff. The panel rejected her account, finding the touching was intentional and sexual in nature, likely intended to show interest in the man.

The hearing concluded she breached standards of authority, respect and courtesy, as well as discreditable conduct. It found there was no evidence of consent and noted that several people present knew she was a police officer at the time.

Her culpability was assessed as medium to high, with the panel warning her actions had the potential to undermine public confidence in policing. Aggravating factors included sexual motivation, excessive alcohol consumption and the fact she breached multiple professional standards.

Despite the gross misconduct finding, the panel decided dismissal would be disproportionate.

It placed significant weight on her otherwise strong record, including an off-duty incident in which she helped save the life of a two-year-old child by administering CPR on a beach at Solva. The child made a full recovery, and Williams received formal commendations.

The panel described the incident as out of character and said a final written warning would be sufficient to mark the seriousness of the behaviour.

The decision to allow her to remain in post, despite a finding of sexualised misconduct, is likely to raise questions about consistency in police discipline and the message it sends to the public.

Concerns raised over phone-based support replacing GP referrals

ADULTS seeking routine mental health support in west Wales will increasingly be directed to a telephone helpline instead of face-to-face services, following a major decision by Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The Health Board has approved a permanent change to how patients in Ceredigion access support, with plans to roll out the same system across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire in phases.

Under the new pathway, patients assessed by their GP as needing non-urgent mental health support will be told to contact the NHS 111 Wales “Press 2” service, rather than being referred to community mental health teams.

The change was first introduced in Ceredigion in March 2025 as an emergency response to staff shortages.

Health chiefs now say the model has proven “safe and effective,” claiming it allows patients to receive quicker support while freeing up specialist teams to deal with more serious cases.

Liz Carroll, the Health Board’s Service Director for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, said: “Making this change permanent will mean more adults needing non-urgent support will access help much quicker.”

She added that the move would also create capacity for those with “more complex or urgent mental health needs.”

Concerns over access and understanding

Despite the positive assessment, the decision follows a nine-week consultation in which concerns were raised by patients and professionals.

Feedback highlighted confusion about how the 111 Press 2 service works, what support it can offer, and its limitations.

There were also worries about accessibility for people who struggle with telephone-based services, as well as questions around medication and prescribing.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at the Health Board, acknowledged the concerns.

He said: “People told us they wanted greater clarity and consistency… and highlighted gaps in understanding about 111 Press 2.”

He added that steps would be taken to improve awareness and build trust as the system is rolled out more widely.

Shift driven by pressure on services

Before the change, some patients in Ceredigion faced waits of up to 28 days or more for a face-to-face assessment.

However, data suggested that fewer than five per cent of those referred required that level of specialist input.

Health officials say diverting less urgent cases to the 111 service has improved access times and allowed community mental health teams to prioritise higher-risk patients.

The Health Board also confirmed there has been no increase in serious incidents or complaints linked to the temporary system.

What it means for Pembrokeshire

The phased rollout means patients in Pembrokeshire will soon see similar changes when seeking help for non-urgent mental health issues.

GPs will still be able to refer patients directly to specialist teams where cases are urgent or complex.

The NHS 111 Wales Press 2 service operates 24 hours a day and offers free access to mental health support, including Welsh-language provision.

However, the shift marks a significant move away from traditional GP-led referrals — and is likely to prompt debate over whether remote access can fully replace in-person care.

Overnight closure planned for access road near Victoria Bridge roundabout

DRIVERS accessing Milford Haven railway station are being warned to expect delays this weekend due to planned overnight roadworks.

Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed that the unclassified access road leading to the station will be closed from its junction with Victoria Bridge roundabout.

The closure is scheduled to take place between midnight and 5:00am on Sunday (March 29) to allow work to be carried out on an electricity substation by National Grid.

While access to the station will be maintained, motorists are being advised that delays are likely.

There will be no official diversion route in place, as the road is not a through route.

Emergency service vehicles and those connected with the works will be exempt from the restriction. Access to nearby properties will be maintained where possible.

Pedestrian access to the station will remain unaffected throughout the closure.

The council has also confirmed that if the work is not completed within the planned five-hour window, the closure notice could remain in place for up to five days.

The Herald understands that there are typically no train services operating from Milford Haven station during the closure period.