Inspectors rate leadership and partnership working as ‘good’ but highlight inconsistent risk assessments

SOUTH WALES POLICE has been praised for its strong leadership and partnership work in protecting children from harm — but inspectors have called for improvements in how the force assesses risk and investigates abuse cases.

A report published on Thursday (Nov 14) by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) examined how the force responds to children at risk, how effectively it investigates allegations of abuse, and how well it works with safeguarding partners.

The inspectors concluded that “the concerted efforts of officers and staff, extending from operational teams to strategic leaders, are helping to achieve better outcomes for children.”

The report rated the force’s leadership, partnership work, and response to children at risk as good, but said performance in assessing risk and investigating abuse, neglect and exploitation was only adequate.

The inspection found that officers were “committed and caring,” and praised the establishment of specialist exploitation teams and the force’s investment in training. However, it also identified inconsistency in the supervision of child protection cases and delays in recording safeguarding decisions.

Assistant Chief Constable Tom Williams said the findings reflected the dedication of staff across South Wales Police and the importance the force places on protecting the most vulnerable.

He said: “Every day our officers and staff, both on the frontline and in specialist roles, work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities from harm. I am really pleased that our work on child protection has been recognised by HM Inspectorate.

“In such a complex area of policing there will be ways we can get better, which is why we have increased training and set up dedicated exploitation teams that have already made a difference in identifying and investigating offences of grooming and child sexual exploitation.

“There is more work to do, but we are totally committed to protecting children from harm and playing an integral role in the wider network of partners across South Wales who keep young people safe.”

South Wales Police urged anyone concerned that a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect to report it, promising that all reports will be taken seriously and investigated.

The full HMICFRS report can be read at: South Wales Police: National child protection inspection – HMICFRS.

Pair from Worcestershire targeted tradesmen across Carmarthenshire and beyond

TWO men who travelled from Worcestershire to raid work vans west Wales have been sentenced after stealing thousands of pounds worth of tools from local tradesmen.

Aston Amos, aged 35, and 27-year-old Robbie Bate, both from Bewdley, made late-night trips through Powys and Carmarthenshire during July, breaking into vehicles in Builth Wells, Brecon and Newcastle Emlyn. Tools worth around £13,000 were taken over two separate nights of offending.

Dyfed-Powys Police launched an investigation following multiple reports of vans being forced open. Officers reviewing CCTV footage identified a black Audi A4 travelling repeatedly between Wales and the West Midlands.

Enquiries later revealed the car had been linked to a booking at a hotel in St Clears, and that both men’s phones had travelled the same route. Amos, who was already subject to a court-imposed GPS ankle tag, was found to have been at the scene of the thefts when the offences took place.

When police searched the Woodman Caravan Park near Bewdley on 9 August, they discovered the Audi and a cache of stolen tools. Both men were arrested soon after.

At Swansea Crown Court, the pair admitted five counts of theft. Amos has 15 previous convictions for 24 offences, including vehicle theft and handling stolen goods. Bate has eight previous convictions for mainly motoring offences.

Judge condemns ‘cruel’ crimes

Judge Geraint Walters said the men had deliberately targeted tradespeople who depended on their tools for their livelihoods. He described the thefts as “organised and deliberate”, adding that taking away a worker’s tools was “one of the cruellest things imaginable”.

Defence lawyers said Amos had been battling drug and alcohol problems and was now sober in custody. Bate, who helps to care for his three-year-old son, expressed remorse and said he wanted to start a gardening business.

Amos was jailed for nine months, to run consecutively to an existing sentence for wounding. Bate received a nine-month suspended sentence, 160 hours of unpaid work, a 12-week curfew, and must complete rehabilitation sessions.

The judge warned Bate that if he breached the order, “you’ll be coming back to Swansea — and you won’t be going home.”

Residents describe ‘shocking scenes’ as mother arrested for neglect

NEIGHBOURS have described “chaotic” scenes in the hours before a toddler was found alone in a rain-soaked pram late on Sunday night (Nov 9) at Bush Camp, Pembroke Dock.

Several residents contacted The Herald following our initial report, saying the incident had “shaken the whole street” and that they had witnessed earlier disturbances outside the property.

One neighbour told us: “We saw smashing and chucking things in the street. It was horrible to watch and you could tell something wasn’t right.”

Another said the community was still in shock:
“That poor little boy is very lucky. It was pouring down. He could have died if he hadn’t been found.”

Some residents claimed this was not the first time concerns had been raised.
One said: “People around here have been worried before,” but no official records of previous incidents have been confirmed.

Other neighbours voiced concerns about wider issues in the area, with one saying:
“There’s a clear difference between mental health and people being off their heads on stuff.”

The Herald stresses, however, that police have not suggested drugs played any part in this incident, and no such allegations have been made by officers.

Arrest confirmed

As previously reported, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that a 29-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of child neglect after an infant was found outside in a pram in a garden in Wavell Crescent.
She has been released on bail, and “appropriate arrangements have been made for the care of the child.”

Rescuer: ‘I just wanted to get him safe’

The 20-year-old man who retrieved the child from the rain said he acted immediately when he heard noises outside.

“It was pissing it down. I heard something, looked out the window, and ran out. He was soaked and cold. I just wanted to get him into a safe place,” he told The Herald.

Police arrived within minutes, followed by social services.

Community shaken

A number of Bush Camp residents said the incident highlights ongoing concerns about antisocial behaviour and vulnerability in the area.

One told us: “Everyone is talking about it. People just want the children around here to be safe.”

The Herald will continue to follow the case and will publish further updates when police release more information.