News

New police air service ‘is delivering’

Published

10 years ago

April 4, 2016

DYFED-POWYS’ new police air service has completed its first two months, providing 24-hour coverage across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.

Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: “Air cover is there 24 hours every day of the year where previously we had just 12 hours a day.

“In January last year our own helicopter was out of action 10 days for maintenance. Other than during bad weather, as was the case with the previous service, I’m pleased that figures show the new arrangement is meeting our needs so far.

“I am keeping a close eye on it to ensure that it delivers what we need.

“It costs us £275,000 less too, with further savings of £75,000 from April this year. I am determined to put that towards frontline officers to keep people safe.”

The police force asked for air support 41 times in January and February. On 18 of those occasions, the crew was stood down before take-off as incidents had been resolved by officers on the ground.

The 11 incidents attended included a counter-terrorism exercise in Milford Haven, concerns for the welfare of individuals in Sennybridge, Powys, and the Black Mountain, near Ammanford, people fleeing from a road collision in Aberystwyth and a missing person in Cardigan.

Poor weather prevented the air crews attending on nine occasions. Three incidents which the service could not attend for other reasons included missing people who were located shortly after the call to the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

Like-for-like data for 2015 is unavailable. However, January 2015 did see 24 calls for air support, with 14 being stood down. The Dyfed- Powys aircraft was unavailable for 10 days due to maintenance.

Supt Huw Meredith, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said: “I meet regularly with NPAS to review our demand and their response. We are working closely together to ensure that Dyfed-Powys Police gets the best possible service from NPAS.”

The home of the former Dyfed- Powys service, Pembrey, is being used as a forward operating base by NPAS. Helicopters have made a number of visits this year. Mr Salmon and the police force are considering how the base can be further used in the future. It is already being used for driver training.

The new air service began on January 1, supplied by the NPAS and offering 24/7 cover from air bases such as St Athan in South Wales and Hawarden in North Wales.

It replaced a Dyfed-Powys service which had been available 12 hours a day. The new service costs the taxpayer £890,000 a year, significantly less than the previous service.

NPAS Accountable Manager Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehouse said: “We are pleased to welcome Dyfed-Powys into the NPAS collaboration.

“We are committed to working with local staff to develop operational support that reduces the threat, harm and risk to communities.

“Since it’s foundation in 2009, NPAS has delivered 23% savings to forces across the country in the cost of air support.”

THE EYE IN THE SKY

Inspector Ian Richards tells The Herald what can happen in a typical day.

At Dyfed-Powys Police, the helicopter team gives ‘an eye in the sky’ for the Force. It can take as little as 12 minutes to search an area of one square mile at a cost of £160. In comparison it can take 12 police officers, 454 hours at a cost of £4,500 to cover the same area!

The crew respond to a variety of tasks including:
Searches for missing people, suspects and vehicles
Taking casualties to hospital
Transporting specialist teams around the force area
Gathering intelligence including using video and aerial photography
Reassurance from the air, to the communities of Dyfed-Powys

WHAT HAPPENS IN A DAY?

Early morning: First things first – The weather is an important factor and can have a massive effect on how our day will pan out. The crew will probably be looking at the weather on their way into work!

Once at the base, the aircraft is prepared for its activities – the fuel is checked, and fuel details are filled in. The equipment in the aircraft is checked and the daily pre-flight check is carried out. The planned events for the day are discussed and a weather report and details of any aviation activity which would affect our operations within the force area are given, such as military fast jet activity and the state of the various military ranges throughout the Force.

Any pre-planned tasks or requests made for the helicopter over-night will also be scrutinized and taking into account as the day is planned.

10.30am: A request is made for the helicopter to attend the areas of Mathry / Scleddau in north Pembrokeshire, to assist in a search. The crew look at the incident on the computer, and see that in the earlier hours of the morning a road traffic collision has occurred. There is only one vehicle involved and it is on its roof, the driver cannot be found and there is mounting concern for the driver, given the fact that it is located in a very rural area. The weather is good and the crew make contact with the officers at the scene, including a Police dog handler.

The helicopter makes its way to the scene (15 minutes) and quickly establishes communications with officers on the ground. The crew then carry out and extensive visual and thermal search utilising the powerful camera equipment fitted to the helicopter. Numerous field, tracks, lanes and roads are searched, but no persons area found and the helicopter resumes back to the base in Pembrey. The driver was later found at an address safe and well. Whilst the helicopter is coming back into the base at Pembrey, the crew spot what they believe to be some illegal cockling activity in the area of the estuary near to Llansteffan. Video footage of the activity is recorded by the crew and details of vehicles at the scene are obtained. The information will later be passed to our partner agencies to assist them in any future prosecutions.

3:00pm: Reports come in to the Police control room of a number of male persons in possession of shotguns, at a construction site in the Milford Haven area. The site is located in a rural area outside of the town. Firearms teams make their way to the vicinity and report that they have found an abandoned car in a gate way to a field. Inside the car are gun cases and they report hearing gunshots from the direction of nearby fields and woods. Based on this information the firearms teams request that Helicopter attended to carry out a search of the open areas and woodlands.

The crew make contact with the firearms officers via the radio and establish a search area. The helicopter then makes its way to the scene (10 minutes) and establish communication with the firearms officers. A visual and thermal search are carried out, in the areas identified by the firearms officers. During the search, the crew spot a heat source in a wooded area, using the thermal camera and whilst monitoring the images they establish that it is in fact a person and he can also be seen holding a gun.

The crew then direct firearms officers towards the male, whilst at the same time providing a commentary of the males movements and actions, and the footage is beamed back to the Police Control Room using the data downlink. A second male is also spotted on the thermal camera and firearms officers are updated. The males meet with officers and it transpires that they have permission to shoot on the land and are legally in possession of their shotguns. The Helicopter resumes from the scene back to Pembrey.

7:30pm: A report from the Ambulance service is received of a seriously ill 10 month old baby in the Rhayader area of Powys. The Air Ambulance is offline so the Ambulance service have asked if the Police Helicopter can carry out what we call a CASEVAC or casualty evacuation.

The crew immediately get airborne, it is now dark so the crew are wearing night vision goggles and they plot the route to Rhayader, taking into account obstacles and high ground en-route. Whilst travelling the crew are speaking with Police Officers on the ground, and ask then to identify a suitable landing area, check that the area is clear and free from obstacles such a telephone or electric cabling. The area chosen is a rugby field and ground units manage to get the flood lighting turned on in time for the landing of the helicopter.

One crew member then re-fits the interior of the aircraft, whilst the others meet with the ground units, Ambulance and Doctor. The decision is made that the baby will be carried by the mother in the helicopter and a Paramedic will accompany the crew on the flight to Morriston Hospital, Swansea.

The patient is safely transported to Morriston Hospital, giving a time of 1 hour and 12 minutes from the helicopter leaving the base at Pembrey to arriving at Morriston with the patient.

Evening: After return to base, the aircraft is re-fuelled, updated all our records and the last flight/ incident was debriefed. At 8:30pm it was the end of the shift for the aircraft.

As you can see, we are busy team and cover a large area. We can get to places quickly and safely to help the officers on the ground deal with a variety of situations.

Farming

Basic Payment Scheme 2025 balance paid to 95% of Welsh farmers

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Final year of BPS as transition to Sustainable Farming Scheme begins

The WELSH Government says more than ninety-five per cent of farm businesses have now received their full or balance payment under the final year of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), ahead of the introduction of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2026.

Announcing the update on Friday (Dec 12), Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed that over 15,400 Welsh farm businesses have been paid £68.7m. This comes on top of the £160m issued in BPS advance payments since 14 October.

Final round of BPS payments

The Basic Payment Scheme, which has been the backbone of farm support in Wales for a decade, provides direct income support to help farmers plan and manage their businesses. BPS 2025 marks the last year in which full BPS payments will be made before the scheme begins to be phased out.

The Cabinet Secretary said officials would “continue to process the outstanding BPS 2025 claims as soon as possible,” adding that all but the most complex cases should be completed by 30 June 2026.

Payments issued today represent the main balance due to farmers following earlier advances, giving many businesses the cash flow they need during the quieter winter period—traditionally a challenging time in the agricultural calendar.

Shift to Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the Welsh Government will begin rolling out the Sustainable Farming Scheme, a major reform to how agricultural support is delivered. The SFS will reward farmers for environmental outcomes such as habitat management, carbon reduction and biodiversity improvements, alongside continued food production.

The government has argued that the new scheme is essential to meeting Wales’ climate and nature targets while ensuring long-term resilience in the sector. However, the transition has been closely watched by farming unions, who have raised concerns about the administrative burden, income stability, and the speed at which BPS is being phased out.

Mr Irranca-Davies reaffirmed the government’s stance, saying: “This government is steadfastly committed to supporting Welsh farmers to sustainably produce quality food. This is demonstrated today in our payment of the BPS 2025 balance payments and will continue throughout the transition period.”

Sector reaction

Farming unions are expected to scrutinise the detail of today’s announcement, particularly around remaining unpaid cases. Last year, late payments led to frustration in parts of the sector, with unions calling for greater certainty as the industry faces rising input costs, supply chain pressures and continued market volatility.

The move to the SFS remains one of the most significant agricultural policy changes in Wales since devolution. Ministers insist the shift is designed to support both food production and environmental stewardship, while critics warn the transition must not undermine farm viability—especially for family-run livestock farms that dominate rural areas such as Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

What happens next

Farmers still awaiting their BPS 2025 balance will continue to be processed “as soon as possible”, the Welsh Government said. Officials will also publish updated guidance on the Sustainable Farming Scheme ahead of its launch.

The coming year will therefore become a pivotal moment for Welsh agriculture, as the long-standing BPS framework—which provided over £200m annually to Welsh farmers—makes way for a new results-based model that will shape the industry for decades to come.

News

Improved train timetable launches across Wales

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Extra services, later trains and boosted Sunday routes as £800m rail investment takes effect

An improved train timetable has come into force across Wales today (Sunday, 14 December), with Transport for Wales (TfW) introducing more frequent services, stronger connections and additional late-night trains on key routes.

The winter timetable update brings one of the most substantial uplifts in recent years on the Wales and Borders network, forming part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing £800 million investment in brand-new rolling stock and reliability improvements.

More trains and later journeys

Among the upgrades, passengers will see:

A new hourly additional service between Chester and Wrexham, effectively doubling the frequency on one of the region’s busiest commuter corridors.
An extra train in each direction every day on the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury.
Three later last trains from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, supporting shift workers and the night-time economy.
A new hourly Sunday service on the Coryton line in Cardiff.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said improved connectivity was “absolutely vital” for economic growth and passenger confidence.

“These changes will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from more services and greater connectivity,” he said. “This has been made possible by our £800m investment in brand-new trains for the Wales and Borders network.

“We will see the doubling of trains between Wrexham and Chester and a later service from the capital to valley communities. In South Wales, people will continue to benefit from simpler, fairer fares through TfW’s Pay As You Go service, and its forthcoming introduction in North Wales will help even more passengers access easy, transparent pricing.”

Full details of the updated timetable are available at: tfw.wales/service-status/timetables

News

Wrecked guard boat still under watch off north Pembrokeshire coast

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Tidal changes monitored after dramatic early-morning rescue

A GUARD VESSEL that ran aground off the north Pembrokeshire coast in the early hours of Thursday morning (Dec 11) remains under close observation as tides continue to shift.

The Resolute, a 24-metre guard boat understood to be working for an offshore wind project off the Irish coast, had been sheltering in worsening weather when she was pushed onto rocks near Aber Hywel, Dinas, shortly after 3:25am.

Four crew members were onboard when the vessel grounded in rough seas and a strong southerly wind.

Major rescue effort launched

The crew issued an emergency alert, prompting a full multi-agency response.
A coastguard rescue helicopter, both Fishguard RNLI lifeboats, and coastguard teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene.

Turbulent air made a winch rescue impossible and Fishguard’s all-weather lifeboat was unable to get close due to cliffs and submerged hazards. The inshore lifeboat was instead deployed to attempt a transfer in extremely challenging conditions.

During the evacuation, the third crew member descending to the vessel’s life raft slipped, fell into the water and was swept away. Speaking afterwards, RNLI crew member Cedwyn Rogers said the team immediately switched into “hyper-focused” mode as training took over.

Despite the casualty drifting, helm Warren Bean — a volunteer with more than 30 years’ RNLI experience — manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside, allowing crew to haul the man to safety. The remaining crew member was then retrieved, and all four were taken aboard the all-weather lifeboat and brought ashore to Fishguard.

All rescue units were later stood down.

Vessel still stranded and taking on water

The Herald understands that the Resolute remained aground on the rocks yesterday and was taking on water. The crew were later assisted back onboard by a local fisherman to assess damage on behalf of the vessel’s operators.

Management representatives from Ireland were due to arrive to draw up a recovery plan, including arrangements to remove fuel to prevent any potential environmental impact.

Further inspections have been taking place today as the team evaluates the next steps.

Coastguard statement

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “At 3.28am on Thursday morning, HM Coastguard was made aware of a vessel with four persons onboard aground on rocks at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. RNLI lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene. The four people aboard were rescued by lifeboat, and the helicopter was stood down. The vessel, which is still aground, is being monitored as tidal conditions change.”