Find comes months after Russian vessel monitored off Pembrokeshire coast

A SUSPECTED Russian sonobuoy – the type used to track submarine movements – has been recovered from the seabed off Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, just months after a notorious Russian surveillance ship was monitored operating off the Welsh coast.

Volunteer divers from Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) made the discovery on Saturday, November 15, during one of their routine seabed clean-ups near Wooltack Point. The cylindrical device, thick with barnacles and marine growth, appears consistent with equipment used by foreign militaries for underwater monitoring. The team also removed several discarded fishing weights from the conservation area.

Sonobuoys are normally deployed from aircraft and are used to detect submarine activity. Some operate passively by listening for acoustic signatures through hydrophones, while others emit sound pulses and analyse returning echoes before transmitting data back to aircraft or nearby vessels.

The object has now been handed to the relevant authorities for formal assessment.

Heightened tensions at sea

The timing of the discovery has sharpened local concerns, coming in the same week Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that the Russian spy ship Yantar has been operating on the edge of UK territorial waters.

RAF pilots monitoring the vessel reported that lasers were directed at their aircraft – an action Mr Healey described as “deeply dangerous”. He added that the UK has “military options ready” should the vessel head further south.

Yantar is known within NATO for its deep-sea intelligence capabilities, including the ability to locate, map and potentially tamper with critical undersea infrastructure. This includes fibre-optic communications cables, energy pipelines and data routes vital to the UK’s economy and national security.

It is the second time this year the vessel has entered wider UK waters. In July 2025, Yantar was tracked off the Pembrokeshire coast, prompting RAF surveillance flights and a Royal Navy frigate to be dispatched to shadow it. At the time, defence officials told The Herald the ship was “lingering unusually close to sensitive undersea cables”.

Local concerns and unanswered questions

While the origins of the object discovered off Skomer have not yet been confirmed, its presence near a protected Welsh marine reserve has raised eyebrows among security specialists.

Experts note that sonobuoys can be lost or abandoned during military exercises, and it is not yet clear whether the device is Russian, British or from any other nation. However, the combination of recent Russian naval behaviour, the location of the find and the increasing strategic focus on undersea infrastructure makes the discovery particularly notable.

Skomer and the surrounding waters form one of Wales’ most important marine conservation zones, attracting thousands of visitors and researchers every year. The area is protected for its seabird colonies, grey seals and rich underwater habitats.

NARC, which has removed more than 1,000 tonnes of debris from Welsh waters over the past two decades, say they will continue their regular programme of clean-ups to protect the site from hazards.

A spokesperson for the group said further details about the recovered device will be released once authorities have completed their analysis.

Corporation insists defamation claim has ‘no basis’ after apology over 2021 speech edit

THE BBC has said there is “no basis” for Donald Trump’s threatened multibillion-dollar lawsuit, insisting the disputed Panorama documentary was not broadcast in the United States and caused no reputational harm.

The corporation confirmed it has had “no further contact” from the former US president’s lawyers, despite his renewed pledge to sue for “between one and five billion dollars” over the programme Trump: A Second Chance?, which aired ahead of the 2024 US election.

The controversy centres on a January 6, 2021 speech in which Mr Trump’s remarks were edited in a way that appeared to link his words more directly to the Capitol riots. The BBC apologised last week, calling the splice “an error of judgment” but denying it was malicious or defamatory.

A spokesperson said on Saturday: “We have had no further contact from President Trump’s lawyers at this point. Our position remains the same.”

In an interview with GB News, Mr Trump said he had an “obligation” to sue, claiming: “This was so egregious. If you don’t do it, you don’t stop it from happening again with other people.”

The BBC’s lawyers have set out five key arguments rejecting liability:

• the Panorama episode was not shown on US channels and was geo-restricted to UK viewers on iPlayer;
• Mr Trump suffered no damage, having gone on to win re-election;
• the edit was intended only to shorten a lengthy speech and was not motivated by malice;
• the clip should be viewed in the context of the full hour-long programme; and
• political expression is strongly protected under US defamation law.

The fallout from the broadcast led to the resignations of director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness. Chairman Samir Shah wrote personally to the White House to apologise and confirmed a review of editorial standards is under way.

Mr Davie told staff this week: “We must stand up for our journalism. The BBC is a unique and precious organisation, and I see the free press under pressure. I’m really proud of the work we do locally and globally—it’s utterly precious.”

The Panorama episode will not be re-aired, and the BBC has posted a retraction notice on its website.

Ministers say “failed experiment” will be replaced by councils and mayors

THE government is set to abolish the controversial system of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales, bringing an end to a decade-old experiment in elected policing oversight.

PCCs were introduced by the Conservatives in 2012, replacing police authorities and giving one elected individual responsibility for holding each force to account, setting budgets and priorities, and hiring or firing chief constables. The move was sold as a way to boost transparency and make policing more responsive to local communities.

But the system has long faced criticism, with police chiefs complaining about political interference, low turnout in PCC elections, and inconsistent performance between force areas. Labour ministers have now confirmed the roles will be abolished once the current terms expire.

Announcing the plan, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said PCCs had “failed” to deliver meaningful accountability.
“The introduction of police and crime commissioners by the last government was a failed experiment,” she said. “I will introduce new reforms so police are accountable to their local mayoralties or local councils. The savings will fund more neighbourhood police on the beat across the country, fighting crime and protecting our communities.”

Mahmood added that current PCCs would continue in post until the end of their terms and thanked them for their service. The next PCC elections, due in May 2028, will now be cancelled.

Joint Statement from the Police and Crime Commissioners for Wales

A statement was issued jointly by the Police and Crime Commissioners for Wales on Thursday afternoon: “The announcement that the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) is to be abolished represents a significant moment for policing governance in Wales and across England.

As PCCs, we and our offices perform vital functions that make a real and tangible difference to the lives of thousands of people, from commissioning critical services for victims and survivors, to holding our police forces to account, shaping local priorities, and representing the voices of our communities. This important work will continue throughout any transition period.

While the detail of future governance arrangements has yet to be determined, it has been clear for some time that reform of the policing landscape has been high on the Government’s agenda. Both former and current Home Secretaries have indicated an intention to review and reshape local policing oversight. As this process unfolds, our focus remains on ensuring that accountability, transparency and public service remain at the heart of any new model.

We believe it is essential that the next phase delivers stability, continuity and confidence, for the public, for victims, for policing partners and for the workforce. The transition must not divert attention from what matters most: keeping people safe, supporting victims, and building public trust in policing.

As the future roadmap is developed, we stand ready to contribute our knowledge, experience and insight to help shape the next oversight model. We urge the UK Government, Welsh Government and the Home Office to work collaboratively with us and to consult widely across Wales to ensure that any new arrangements reflect Welsh priorities and maintain the highest standards of accountability and service.

Ultimately, any future system must serve the best interests of policing and the public, safeguarding local accountability while supporting effective, community-focused policing. We welcome the Government’s stated commitment to ensuring that public confidence remains central to policing oversight, and we are committed to engaging constructively to achieve that goal.

The role of PCC may change, but our dedication to the people of Wales and our Force areas remains unwavering. We will continue to champion victims, uphold public confidence, and work tirelessly to ensure that policing in Wales remains responsive, fair and effective through this period of transition and beyond.”

Responding to the news that Police and Crime Commissioners have been abolished, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: “After years of calling for Police and Crime Commissioners to be scrapped, this is a huge Liberal Democrat win.

“The Government must now ensure that the resources wasted on these costly PCCs go into what really matters – improving frontline policing and properly staffing community policing and rural crime teams.”

What happens next

A confidential briefing seen by The Herald states that in areas with an elected mayor — such as Greater Manchester and the West Midlands — those mayoralties will take over PCC responsibilities.
In areas without a mayor, including every police force in Wales, local councils are expected to take on the role via new policing and crime boards. Full details are expected to be announced shortly, including how much money the government believes will be saved and how those savings will be reinvested.

Background: A troubled model from the start

Turnout in the first PCC elections in 2012 averaged just 15%, one of the lowest recorded in any modern UK election. Subsequent contests rarely climbed above 30%.

Several PCCs faced controversy during their terms, including allegations of overreach, resignations, and costly by-elections. Critics said the role created too much power in the hands of one individual, while supporters argued the model brought clearer accountability than the old police authority committees.

For years, independent reviews and parliamentary committees raised concerns about the system’s effectiveness, but no government acted until now.

What it means for Wales

Policing is controlled by Westminster, but PCCs cover the four Welsh police forces: Dyfed-Powys, South Wales, Gwent and North Wales. Wales does not currently have regional mayors with policing powers, meaning new local oversight structures will need to be created.

The move will therefore be one of the most significant changes to policing governance in Wales since devolution.

Who is the current Dyfed-Powys PCC?

The PCC for Dyfed-Powys — covering Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys — is Dafydd Llywelyn, first elected in 2016 and representing Plaid Cymru. He will remain in office until the government formally dissolves the role.