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Milford Haven School: Police called over 120 times in just two years

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FIGURES obtained by The Pembrokeshire Herald have highlighted the scale of police involvement in Milford Haven School over the last few years.

The investigation comes days after police attended the school to break up a fight between pupils. A video of that incident went viral on social media.

Since that story broke, a teacher at Milford Haven School has spoken to The Pembrokeshire Herald on condition that they are not named in this newspaper.

The Herald was told by the member of staff: “Some of the pupils at the school are totally out of control. The police are called often, sometimes several times in one week.

Our source added: “I would say that there are near riot conditions. I know that some of the staff have spent time off work, and they have told me that this is because of stress-related issues.”

The Herald checked with the local authority who said that emergency services had attended Milford Haven school 127 times since January 2017.

Of these calls, 110 were to the police’s 101 service, and 17 were to the 999 emergency call centre.

It is not known at this stage of the 999 calls how many were to ambulance or fire brigade – but it is understood from our source that nearly all of these calls were to Dyfed-Powys Police.

In 2017 there were 63 calls to the 101 service and eight to the 999 service.

In 2018 there were 45 calls to 101 and again eight calls to the 999 service.

So far in 2019, just days into the new term there have been two calls to 101 and one 999 call.

The council said that these figures, which they supplied, ‘show 101 calls declining and 999 calls stable’.

As the school is open for 190 days a year, the numbers demonstrate that the police are contacted on average two or three times a week during term time.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said: “It is important to point out that 101 calls cover a range of issues and 999 could be for the other emergency services, ambulance and fire.

The spokesperson added: “The police do attend the school for a variety of reasons, for example, if a young person is reported missing; to deliver assemblies to students, lunchtime workshop.”

In relation to work-related stress, the Council said: “There are no teachers currently absent from work with work-related stress.”

The council added, in a statement: “The school wishes to make clear that it takes the safety of pupils and staff very seriously and all incidents are dealt with under tested policies and procedures.

“This ensures that pupils are provided with the best possible opportunities to achieve their potential. The school would like to thank parents/carers and the wider community for their continued support.”

In December police were carrying out high visibility searches to stop drugs being brought into the school.

Police officers along with a drugs dog sent time on the school premises where some pupils were searched – but nothing was found.

PC Adam Bateman said: “This was a proactive exercise to show pupils at the school that if they thought about taking drugs onto school grounds we would be able to find them.

“As a precautionary measure, an area of the school grounds was searched by the police dog in order to establish whether any drugs were present.”

Headteacher Ceri-Ann Morris said: “We have confidence that this is an effective part of an overall drugs education strategy.”

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Road closure following serious road traffic collision near Pembroke

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A ROAD traffic collision involving two vehicle led to the closure of the A4075 between Golden Hill and the Fingerpost Junction near Pembroke, causing significant disruption throughout Monday (MAr 18).

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly before 11:30 AM after reports the incident.

The road was closed to allow for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As the day progressed, it became clear that the closure would be extended, with the road likely to remain shut for an extended period.

The accident, described as ‘serious’ by authorities, prompted an immediate response from Dyfed-Powys Police and emergency medical teams.

Early reports suggest that at least one individual has been injured, although the extent of the injuries remains unclear.

Throughout the day, updates from the scene indicated a significant effort by investigative teams to understand the cause of the crash.

By late evening, after more than nine hours of closure, there was a slight reduction in the length of the road affected, AA Traffic said.

The A4075 is a crucial link between Pembroke and the surrounding areas, and its closure has had a noticeable impact on local traffic and commuters.

Emergency services and local authorities have expressed their gratitude to the public for their patience and cooperation during this challenging time.

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Tragic loss of pony spurs campaign for safer roads in west Wales

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A WEST WALES woman has embarked on a mission to ensure such a tragedy never recurs. Laura Grant, 58, faced an unthinkable ordeal last spring when her Welsh Mountain Section A pony, Katie, was fatally injured on a Carmarthenshire road, leading to a wider call for road safety reforms.

The incident unfolded as Grant, accompanied by a 15-year-old family friend, was enjoying a serene carriage drive with Katie and Billy, a Welsh cob. The tranquillity of their outing was shattered when an impatient van driver’s actions spooked Katie, causing her to bolt into a cattle grid despite her 700 miles of road experience. The tragedy of the situation is compounded by the fact that Katie, a rescue pony lovingly nurtured by Grant for four years, could not be saved.

Grant, devastated by the loss, reflected on the moment, wishing the outcome could have been different. “How I wish I managed to stop her or pulled her into the wall, but it happened so quickly,” she lamented. The incident has not only left a void in her heart but has also paused her passion for carriage driving.

In the wake of this loss, Grant is channeling her grief into advocacy, organising a “Pass Wide and Slow” ride in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, to honour Katie’s memory and promote awareness about safe driving near horses. The event, scheduled for September 14, underscores the urgent need for change.

Furthering her campaign, Grant has initiated a petition for “Katie’s Law” on change.org. This proposed legislation calls for the Highway Code’s advice — to pass horses at no more than 10 mph and maintain a two-metre distance — to be legally binding. The necessity of such measures is underscored by British Horse Society data, revealing 100 traffic-related equine incidents in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion in 2023 alone.

Grant’s advocacy extends to urging the Carmarthenshire County Council for greater consideration of equestrian needs, advocating for the restoration and shared use of old riding routes now converted into cycle paths. “Give us back all our old riding routes… We need equestrian access plans for Carmarthenshire, Wales, or better still, the whole UK,” she implores, aiming to prevent further tragedies.

Katie’s legacy, marked by a gold rosette from the British Driving Society for her carriage-driving achievements, continues to inspire a movement towards safer, more inclusive roads.

As the community mourns a “pocket rocket” who brought joy to many, the call for action echoes loud, driven by a hope that Katie’s loss will pave the way for meaningful change.

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Major traffic jams following accident on M4 near Swansea

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A ROAD traffic accident has closed the M4 in both directions as of Tuesday morning (Mar 19).

Police, paramedics and the fire service were called to the scene of the crash on the eastbound carriageway between Pont Abraham and Hendy at 23:20 GMT on Monday.

A fire which had broken out was extinguished before they arrived.

The motorway remains closed in both directions between J48 and J49.

The affected section is between junction 49 Pont Abraham and junction 48 Hendy, Llanelli, in Carmarthenshire.

As of 8.30am there were 45-minute delays with Traffic Wales saying: “Road continues to remain closed.

https://x.com/DyfedPowys/status/1769963608048378117

“Busy in the area delays showing as approximately 45 minutes in the surrounding areas. Please allow additional time for travel and thank you for your patience.”

Traffic monitors are showing there is already slow traffic in the area and congestion.

There are delays on surrounding routes in the area and on the A48.

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