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Street Pastors celebrate fifth anniversary

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street pastorsAS THE street pastors of Haverfordwest celebrated their fifth anniversary last Thursday an enthusiastic group of Christians from various churches in Pembroke gathered with the intention of establishing another initiative south of the Cleddau in the near future.

The meeting, which was held at Westgate Evangelical Chapel Pembroke, took advantage of the fact that Rev Les Isaacs was the guest speaker at the anniversary celebrations planned for Withybush showground later that evening. Rev. Isaac is one of Britain’s most influential black church leaders and co-launched the first Street Pastors initiative together with Baptist minister David Shosanya and Detective Constable Ian Crichlow in 2003. Street Pastors provides a late night outreach service in high crime areas to tackle the issue of guns, knives and violent crimes on the streets of Britain. Reflecting on the developments within Pembrokeshire Rev Isaacs said “We launched in Brixton in 2003 with 18 people of which 15 were women. The public’s response was really fascinating. People wondered why it had taken the church so long and said it was about time they could see the church out on the streets. And then they began to talk to us, telling us all their problems because they felt safe and could see that somebody cared for them. We’ve seen our numbers grow from 18 to more than 11,000 volunteers within the UK.

“We’re also now becoming established in about 8 other countries from Nigeria to America, Australia and Antigua. Other countries are in the pipeline too, including India and Uganda” “It’s brilliant see what has happened in Haverfordwest and to contemplate what might happen in Pembroke. Street Pastors is fantastic because it’s a tool for the church.

“So let’s get out there; let’s be visible; let’s serve and let’s bless our community” Emphasising that street pastors “do not preach at people” he added “We are to be true to our calling to be the light of the world. Just being there is reason enough.

“I remember one guy telling me that he had been watching me for a year and I know that some young people told Michael Howard, the former leader of the Conservative Party that when they saw street pastors at work they saw God walking the streets” Sam Scadden, Project Leader in Haverfordwest said “Five years of Street Pastors in Haverfordwest has been a great blessing to many people.

To begin with it has been very special being out with people on the streets and meeting some of their practical needs right where they are.It has been wonderful to see so many people from different churches and backgrounds networking together.

Many have made new friends and are now supporting each other in many positives ways. We are now looking to recruit our fourth intake of street pastors this summer and are pleased that we may be training with friends from Pembroke, who are looking to initiate a team in their town. Pastor Rob James who is spearheading the Pembroke initiative in conjunction with Rev G Howells of Hundleton said, “I have always been impressed with this work.

“Two of my sons have been heavily involved in Street Pastor projects in London and I know the impact that ordinary Christians can have on the crime rate and the culture of our streets at night. I am thrilled to see a well spring of enthusiasm in Pembroke and delighted with the support we are receiving from the local police.

If anyone wants to know more they can contact me or turn up at our next meeting in Westgate on Thursday March 27tth at 7.30pm”

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Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost

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RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.

The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.

There is a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”

SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION

As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.

Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.

“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”

ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS

An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.

“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.

The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.

Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”

GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES

The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.

The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.

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Milford Haven man admits to downloading indecent images of children

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A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after admitting to downloading over 1,000 indecent images and videos of children, including highly explicit content involving young children. Gareth MacDonald, now 23, appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos across various devices.

The court heard that police visited MacDonald’s home, which was the scene of protests after his arrest, last year following intelligence suggesting that child abuse images had been accessed there.

There were protests outside MacDonald’s house in September 2024 (Pic: Herald)

Officers spoke with MacDonald’s mother at the door before entering to conduct a search.

During the operation, two mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, and two hard drives were seized.

MacDonald initially spoke to one of the officers privately, admitting to downloading the images and saying, “It’s me.” Later, in formal interviews, he revealed that he had grown “bored with legal pornography” roughly a year earlier, knowing that what he was doing was illegal but continuing regardless.

Prosecutor Emily Bennett informed the court that MacDonald’s devices held 15 Category A images, the most severe classification, 26 Category B images, and 960 Category C images. Some content depicted children as young as nine, and the most serious material involved pre-teen children in distressing situations.

Bennett also noted that MacDonald had briefly joined an online group where members self-identified as paedophiles, although he left without sharing any material. Cleaning software was also found on his devices.

Defense counsel Dan Griffiths acknowledged that MacDonald’s actions had crossed the custodial threshold, but argued that there was “a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He highlighted MacDonald’s cooperation with police and his willingness to comply with rehabilitation programmes.

Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the sentencing, addressed MacDonald, saying, “For some considerable time, you have accessed this kind of imagery, fully aware of the harm it represents.” He acknowledged that MacDonald largely isolated himself and stayed at home, factors he considered in the sentencing.

MacDonald was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and participate in the Horizon programme. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.

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Welsh teenager jailed for creating 3D-printed gun at home

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A TEENAGER who assembled parts for a viable semi-automatic firearm using a 3D printer has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

Owain Roberts, 19, purchased nuts, bolts, steel barrels, and metal rods online, constructing components of an FGC-9 gun with the aid of a 3D printer.

Detectives said that this case marks the first of its kind in Gwent, where Roberts admitted to manufacturing a firearm component. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 14).

In April, firearms officers executed warrants at two Newport addresses connected to Roberts. Seized items included a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, and parts for an FGC-9 firearm.

PC Tom Meazey, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, stated: “Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives. To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate. Roberts’s reckless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm placed people at direct risk.”

This rare and complex investigation involved support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Roberts received a prison sentence of four years and nine months.

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