News
Minister sets out new vision for Wales’ fire and rescue services
Wales’ fire and rescue services could be given a wider role in keeping people safe as part of the Welsh Government’s future vision for the service, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn announced today.
Wales’ three Fire and Rescue Services continue to succeed in reducing both the incidence and severity of fire.
Wales has the most extensive programme of home fire safety visits in Great Britain, which focuses effectively on people most at risk of fire. The Welsh Government provides the service with £660,000 in funding to ensure these visits, and the safety devices which are supplied as part of them, are completely free to householders.
This success means the demand on the service is now so low, the service is increasingly under-occupied in many parts of Wales.
Many rural fire stations now respond to only a handful of fires a month. This is making it difficult to recruit and retain the on-call firefighters on which most of Wales relies, and risks jeopardising the sustainability of the Service in rural areas.
In addition, the Fire Service continues to attend a high number of false alarms – which outnumber actual fires, accounting for around 40% of all incidents the Service attends, and consume significant resources for no benefit at all.
The future vision for the service being outlined today involves the possibility of giving Wales’ fire and rescue services responsibility for responding to a range of threats to people’s health and safety, both in terms of prevention and emergency response.
Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn said:
“I would like to thank our Fire and Rescue Services in Wales for their continued success in reducing both the incidence and severity of fire. I have little doubt that this success is partly due to the great emphasis that the Fire Service places on preventing fire and improving awareness of fire risks.
“Firefighters are highly trained to deal with a wide range of incidents besides fires, and have the expertise and respect to raise awareness of and prevent non-fire threats too. There is clear potential for the service to make a real contribution to supporting the NHS in particular, whether in terms of responding to medical emergencies or helping to prevent accidents like falls at home; and clear evidence that this can secure better outcomes and significant savings. There are many impressive examples of this happening, but they are often
small-scale and piecemeal.
“I believe we need to go further, and to do so more consistently and strategically. I want to see a Fire and Rescue Service which deals with a range of threats to people’s health and safety, both in terms of prevention and emergency response, complementing not duplicating the work of other professionals. Only by doing so can we maximise the Service’s public value and secure a sustainable future for it.
“There is real potential to capitalise on the success the Service has already achieved and to maximise its value to the people of Wales. I will make a further announcement in due course on the way ahead.”
To deliver the vision:
There needs to be an agreement on firefighters’ pay and conditions which fairly reflects a broader role. Bilateral UK-level negotiations on this have been very slow. While Welsh Ministers have no wish to step outside the current negotiating machinery, they believe setting out a clearer and more tightly-defined set of requirements for Wales could give the negotiations the impetus they need. The Deputy Minister reiterates the Welsh Government’s commitment to consider providing financial support to a pay deal that meets the needs of Wales and Welsh firefighters.
There needs to be a robust and strategic agreement between the Fire Service, the NHS and other partners, so that the former’s resources can be deployed where they are most needed. There are already constructive discussions on this at senior management level.
The Welsh Government will work with the FRAs to ensure they have the necessary funding and governance mechanisms to support this broader role going forward.
international news
Data watchdog probes Musk’s AI firms over deepfake fears
Investigation launched into Grok chatbot after reports of explicit images created using people’s likeness without consent
THE UK’s data protection regulator has opened formal investigations into X and artificial intelligence company xAI amid growing concerns that their chatbot Grok may have been used to create sexualised “deepfake” images without people’s knowledge.
The action has been taken by the Information Commissioner’s Office, which enforces Britain’s data protection laws, following complaints that the AI tool could generate intimate or explicit images using real individuals’ faces or personal data.
Such images, often referred to as deepfakes, are digitally altered or AI-generated pictures that make it appear someone has posed for photographs or videos they never took.
Regulators fear the technology could be exploited for harassment, blackmail or abuse.
The probe follows a separate investigation by Ofcom, which began examining the platform earlier this year over wider online safety concerns.
Mounting pressure
Both investigations come amid mounting scrutiny of services linked to tech billionaire Elon Musk, whose companies have rapidly expanded the use of generative AI tools capable of producing realistic text and images in seconds.
While such tools are marketed for creative and commercial use, campaigners say safeguards have not kept pace with the risks.
Privacy experts warn that if AI systems are trained on, or can access, personal images or data without clear consent, they may breach UK data protection law.
The ICO said it is now examining how Grok was built, what data may have been used in its development, and whether sufficient protections were put in place to stop misuse.
William Malcolm, the watchdog’s executive director for regulatory risk and innovation, said reports surrounding the chatbot were “deeply troubling”.
He said losing control of personal information in this way could cause “immediate and significant harm”, particularly where children or vulnerable people are targeted.
Safeguards questioned
Investigators will look at whether the companies properly assessed risks, limited the use of personal data and introduced effective barriers to prevent the creation of explicit or abusive content.
Under UK law, organisations found to have mishandled personal data can face enforcement action, including large fines or orders to change how their systems operate.
The ICO confirmed it is working closely with Ofcom and overseas regulators as concerns about AI-generated content increasingly cross international borders.
In response to criticism, X has said it has introduced additional moderation tools and technical measures aimed at preventing the creation of harmful or non-consensual images.
However, regulators say they will continue to examine whether those steps go far enough.
The ICO said it would take action if it finds that legal obligations have not been met.
Crime
Man caught in hotel sting after trying to meet girl, 13
Laugharne defendant confronted by paedophile hunters at St Clears Travelodge before suspended jail term at Swansea Crown Court
A LAUGHARNE man who turned up at a Carmarthenshire hotel believing he was meeting a thirteen-year-old girl instead found himself confronted by paedophile hunters and later sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.
William John Williams, fifty-nine, had been communicating online with what he thought was a schoolgirl. The profile was in fact a decoy set up by a vigilante group.
When he arrived at the Travelodge St Clears for a pre-arranged meeting, members of the group were waiting and contacted police, handing over screenshots of his messages.
Prosecutor Matt Murphy told the court that Williams first made contact with the fake Facebook profile in October 2021. The supposed age of thirteen was made clear from the outset.
Despite this, the defendant sent repeated sexual messages, spoke about masturbating, requested photographs and told the “girl” on several occasions that his penis was erect. He also sent topless photographs of himself.
The court heard Williams urged the account holder to delete the messages, acknowledging he knew he should not be sending them because of her age.
Second fake profile
Members of the group later created another false account, posing as a businesswoman from Swansea, and arranged a date with Williams at the hotel in St Clears. They then liaised with another group to attend the rendezvous.
When Williams arrived, he was challenged and police were called.
During interview he answered “no comment”. In a later interview in February 2023, he claimed he did not believe the child was real and said he thought he was exposing scammers.
The court rejected that explanation.
Williams, of Orchard Park, Laugharne, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He had no previous convictions.
Defence barrister Ian Ibrahim said more than four years had passed since the offending and highlighted delays of more than two years between arrest and court proceedings. He said the defendant, formerly employed in hospitality and construction, was now in poor health and had lost his good character.
Internet ‘unsafe for children’
Sentencing, Judge Catherine Richards told Williams it was the actions of “grown men like you” that made the internet feel unsafe for children and caused parents and carers real concern.
After credit for his guilty plea, Williams was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, and ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme.
He was also placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.
News
Princess of Wales visits historic Pembrokeshire woollen mill
Catherine the Princess of Wales visited Melin Tregwynt, a historic family-owned woollen mill, today, highlighting the enduring traditions and skills of the British textile industry.
Nestled in a secluded, wooded valley near Castlemorris, close to Haverfordwest, Melin Tregwynt has been in continuous operation since at least 1841. The mill, which employs over 40 local people, produces blankets, throws, scarves, cushions and clothing, blending traditional patterns with vibrant colours and contemporary design. Its products are admired globally, from Tenby to Tokyo.
During her visit, the Princess met Melin Tregwynt’s director, Louise Clarke, to learn how the mill preserves traditional craft skills. The company draws on generations of expertise among its staff to mentor young apprentices, ensuring the survival of this historic craft.
Her Royal Highness also spent time with weavers at the loom, observing the intricate process of Welsh double cloth weaving for which Melin Tregwynt is renowned. This traditional technique produces thick, reversible blankets with inverted patterns on each side. The Princess followed the journey of a blanket from initial design to the finished product, seeing the weaving loom in action and meeting the teams responsible for cutting, sewing and finishing the textiles.
The Princess, a long-standing advocate of the British textile industry, has personal connections to the trade: her paternal ancestors were owners of the Leeds-based woollen manufacturer and merchant William Lupton & Co. This visit continues a series of engagements celebrating British textiles, including a tartan-weaving studio in Stirling, Scotland, in January, and visits in 2025 to manufacturers in Carmarthenshire, Suffolk, Kent, and County Tyrone.
After her visit to Melin Tregwynt, the princess went on to visit Huit Denim in Cardigan.

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