Crime
Speed camera vans absent in Ceredigion following officer’s retirement
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THE GO-SAFE speed camera van, a familiar sight in laybys across Ceredigion targeting speeding motorists in towns and villages, has been out of service since June due to the retirement of its operator.
A spokesperson for GoSafe in Dyfed-Powys stated: “A Casualty Reduction Officer based in Aberystwyth retired at the end of June 2024. The recruitment process for this role is ongoing. Whilst we seek to complete this process, we’re using a combination of enforcement officers from other areas and our Operation Ugain teams to ensure the communities continue to be served.”
Despite the vacancy, the team confirmed that an enforcement vehicle currently covers the region from Cardigan. Operation Ugain, which has carried out 11 operations in Ceredigion—including eight in Aberystwyth—has three more operations planned for October and November.
Launched in response to the 20mph speed limit rollout in September 2023, Operation Ugain allows officers across Wales to engage with drivers rather than issue fines. Those caught above the enforcement threshold (set at 26mph) may attend a free 10-minute presentation at a local centre as an alternative to a ticket, at the discretion of the officers.
Crime
Child seriously injured in dog attack in Pembroke Dock
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A CHILD remains in hospital with serious injuries after being bitten by a dog at a property on Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, on Friday evening (February 22).
Police were called to the scene at around 6:50pm following reports of the attack.
Officers seized one dog, which has since been put down.
A significant police presence remained at the property throughout Saturday and Sunday, with forensic officers seen entering and leaving the house as investigations continued.
A 42-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog causing injury. She has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Dyfed-Powys Police have urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the incident while their investigation is ongoing.
Crime
Johnston railway station named as United Kingdom crime hotspot
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Unstaffed Pembrokeshire stop has highest crime rate per passenger
JOHNSTON train station in Pembrokeshire has been revealed as one of Britain’s most crime-ridden stations, according to new figures from British Transport Police (BTP).
Despite recording only ten crimes in 2024, Johnston’s crime rate per million passengers is the highest in the UK. The small, unstaffed station, which serves just 7,000 passengers a year—an average of 19 a day—logged a crime rate of 1,440 per million passengers.
Figures show that four of the ten recorded crimes at Johnston were violent incidents, which could include altercations, assaults, or even stabbings. The data analysis, conducted by MailOnline, placed Johnston at the top of the list due to its low footfall relative to the number of reported offences.
A spokesperson for BTP said: “Stations like Johnston appear to have a high crime rate because they have a low number of crimes recorded combined with a low footfall of passengers. With less than one crime recorded per month, it’s incorrect to suggest passengers are at greater risk of crime at these stations.”
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Crime on the railways at all-time high
The report comes as overall crime on the UK’s transport network has surged to record levels, with nearly 80,000 offences recorded by BTP in 2023/24. Violent crimes and sex offences have more than doubled over the past decade, while overall crime levels are up 55 per cent compared to ten years ago.
Johnston is not the only small station where crime rates appear disproportionately high. Redbridge station near Southampton recorded 38 crimes last year, translating to 1,180 crimes per million passengers. Similarly, Tiverton Parkway in Devon ranked fourth with a crime rate of 830 per million passengers, mainly due to theft and shoplifting incidents.
Serious incidents at major UK stations
While small stations dominate the crime rate rankings, larger stations continue to record the highest total number of crimes. London St Pancras International saw 1,616 crimes in 2024 but serves more than 38.5 million passengers annually.
High-profile violent incidents have raised concerns about safety at UK train stations. In August, 19-year-old mother Stephanie Marie was stabbed to death by her boyfriend in front of commuters at Crawley Station. Last November, 87-year-old Dorothy Chiles died after being attacked at Birmingham New Street Station.
BTP said they are increasing proactive operations to tackle crime on the railways, including stop-and-search initiatives and targeted crackdowns on county lines drug gangs. They urged passengers to report any concerns via their 61016 text service.
Despite the statistics, authorities stress that the chance of becoming a victim of crime on the railway remains low, with serious violent incidents remaining rare.
Crime
Man ‘covered in blue paint’ tasered and arrested in Milford Haven
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A MAN was tasered and arrested by police in Haven Drive, Milford Haven, on Saturday (Feb 22) after a dramatic late-night incident.
The arrest, which took place at around 11:30pm, saw four riot vans descend on the scene.
A witness, who was walking her dog, described the chaos.
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“I saw four riot vans in Haven Drive. There was a lot of shouting in the street.”
The resident told us: “I saw them taser him three times, then they cuffed him, and bound his ankles because.
“He was literally blue.
“He’d kicked a tin of paint over and was literally blue – so were the police restraining him. Seven police officers carried him to the van.”
Dyfed-Powys Police has been approached for comment.
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