Crime

Shoplifting down across Dyfed-Powys – but union warns many incidents unreported

Published

7 months ago

October 25, 2025

NEW figures show shoplifting offences have fallen sharply across the Dyfed-Powys Police area – but retail union Usdaw has warned the apparent reduction may mask the true scale of retail crime, with many incidents now going unreported.

According to the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics, recorded shoplifting fell by 14% in Dyfed-Powys in the year to June. Across Wales as a whole, there was a 6% drop, while neighbouring forces saw mixed results – South Wales Police down 11%, Gwent up 2%, and North Wales up 3%.

The figures buck the wider England and Wales trend, where shoplifting has more than doubled since the pandemic, rising from 228,250 incidents in 2021 to 529,994 by June 2025.

However, retail staff and unions warn that the apparent improvement in West Wales could reflect under-reporting rather than a real decline.
Usdaw says many shop workers and store managers no longer bother calling police for smaller thefts, citing low response rates and the £200 prosecution threshold, which often means offenders are not charged. Others deal with incidents internally or through store bans rather than formal reports.

Usdaw General Secretary Joanne Thomas said: “It is welcome that there has been a small decrease in police-recorded shoplifting in Wales, but retail crime remains far too high and has more than doubled since the pandemic. Our survey shows this is not a victimless crime — repeated and persistent thefts can lead to anxiety, fear, and even physical harm for retail workers.

“We’ve campaigned with many retailers for tougher measures, and we’re pleased that the Government’s new Crime and Policing Bill is progressing through Parliament. We now need that legislation to deliver real protection for shop workers, end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, and provide funding for more uniformed police patrols in shopping areas.”

Usdaw’s latest survey of 9,500 retail staff found that 77% had experienced verbal abuse, 53% had been threatened, and 10% had been assaulted in the past year. Two-thirds said those incidents were triggered by shop theft or armed robbery.

The union will release new interim figures from its ongoing research during Respect for Shopworkers Week, which runs from 10–16 November.

Usdaw represents around 360,000 members, mostly in retail, and runs the long-standing Freedom from Fear campaign aimed at tackling violence and abuse against shop staff.

Crime

Milford Haven man admits assault and harassment charges

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN has admitted assaulting a family member and harassing another relative following incidents in the town last year.

Wayne Whatling, 39, of Howarth Close, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Whatling changed his pleas to guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one charge of harassment without violence.

The assault charge relates to an incident in Milford Haven on September 13, 2025, when Whatling assaulted Ben Whatling by beating him.

He also admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to harassment against Carol Whatling between September 1 and September 13, 2025.

The court heard the harassment allegation involved repeatedly asking Carol Whatling for money, with the complainant said to have feared repercussions if she did not provide it.

Magistrates adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Whatling was remanded on conditional bail and ordered not to contact Carol or Ben Whatling directly or indirectly.

He is due to be sentenced at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 9).

Crime

Milford Haven man admits affray after alleged pub incident

Published

3 days ago

May 21, 2026

Court Reporter

A MILFORD HAVEN man has admitted affray following an incident at a town centre pub.

Stephen Collier, 38, of Vaynor Road, Milford Haven, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (May 21).

Collier has pleaded guilty to affray, relating to an incident at Nos Da, Victoria Road, Milford Haven, on December 3, 2025.

The charge states that he used unlawful violence towards John Dean Hilton and that his conduct was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety.

Collier also faces a separate charge of burglary dwelling with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. It is alleged that, on the same date, he entered a flat at Nos Da as a trespasser and inflicted grievous bodily harm on Mr Hilton. He denies that charge.

The court also dealt with a breach of bail allegation after Collier was arrested on May 20 for allegedly breaching a curfew condition. He admitted the breach.

Magistrates re-admitted him to conditional bail.

His bail conditions include a daily electronically monitored curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, residence at his Vaynor Road address, and exclusions from Mount Estate, Milford Haven town centre, and Nos Da.

He must also not contact prosecution witnesses, including Molly Martin, Jack Martin, Lily Rose Martin and John Hilton.

Collier is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, June 5, for sentence.

A spokesperson for Nos Da said the incident was connected with rooms upstairs at the Victoria Road premises, and did not take place in the bar itself, in the licensed area.