Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

71% drop in council bailiff use

Published

on

County Hall

County Hall

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL refers less debt collection cases to bailiffs than any other local authority in Wales, according to figures released this week.

The data, collected by the Money Advice Trust, showed that across England and Wales more and more councils are making use of bailiffs to collect debts.  Cardiff Council, for example, used bailiffs more than 21,000 times last year – an increase of 86% over the preceding year.

Interestingly, the Money Advice Trust claimed that their figures showed that the councils which used bailiffs more were least successful at collecting debts.

Chief Executive Joanna Elson said:  “On the front line of debt advice we know that sending the bailiffs in can deepen debt problems, rather than solve them – and it can also have a severe impact on the wellbeing of people who are often already in a vulnerable situation.

Bailiff action is not only harmful to those in arrears – it is also a poor deal for the council taxpayer.”

However, Pembrokeshire County Council was one of several in Wales to reverse the national trend and refer fewer cases to bailiffs.  Over the financial year 2014-2015, PCC instructed bailiffs to collect debts from businesses and individuals on 729 occasions.  This marked a 71% decrease from the year before, and ranked the council among the lowest in England and Wales for bailiff use – 308th out of 326.

A spokesman for the council said:  “The Council has returned the highest Council Tax collection rates in Wales for at least the last three years. Consequently, there will be fewer and fewer cases to refer to bailiffs.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

on

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

  • Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
  • Common assault
  • Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Continue Reading

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

on

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • A second count of assault
  • Criminal damage
  • An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
  • A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Continue Reading

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

on

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • Intentional non-fatal strangulation
  • Common assault on a woman
  • Criminal damage in a domestic context
  • Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
  • Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.

Continue Reading

News10 hours ago

Search under way in Pembroke Dock for missing man Lee

Coastguard, RNLI and rescue helicopter launched as fears grow he entered the water A MAJOR search and rescue operation is...

News11 hours ago

Search under way in Pembroke as man reported missing

Rescue teams battle worsening weather ahead of amber rain warning A MULTI-AGENCY search and rescue operation is under way in...

News14 hours ago

Amber weather warning as ‘danger to life’ rain set to hit Pembrokeshire

Dyfed-Powys Police and council teams prepare as Monday deluge expected COMMUNITIES across Pembrokeshire are being urged to brace for severe...

Crime16 hours ago

Former Army Cadet leader sentenced for child abuse image offences

Judge condemns “horribly abused” victims as Carmarthen man admits offences A FORMER Army Cadet instructor from Carmarthen has been sentenced...

Crime18 hours ago

Trefin dog case ends in forfeiture order after protection notice breach

Village protest followed months of complaints about barking A WOMAN from north Pembrokeshire has been fined £1,000 and ordered to...

Crime1 day ago

Man spared jail after baseball bat incident in Milford Haven

Judge says offence was so serious only a prison sentence was justified A 44-YEAR-OLD has been given a suspended prison sentence after...

Crime2 days ago

Rural cannabis factory exposed after five-year operation in Carmarthenshire

Family-run drugs enterprise brought in millions before police raid during lockdown A FAMILY who relocated from England to a remote...

Business3 days ago

Senedd rejects calls to ‘eliminate’ rates for small businesses

A CONSERVATIVE call to abolish rates for all small businesses in Wales has been voted down by the Senedd amid...

Community4 days ago

Christmas song pokes fun at Haverfordwest’s ‘Instagram-friendly’ bridge

Rock track raises money for charity while giving a gentle dig to the council A BRAND-NEW Christmas rock song by...

Crime4 days ago

Police reassure community after school lockdown incident in Carmarthen 

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued reassurance to the community after Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen was placed into a precautionary lockdown on...

Popular This Week