News
Do you know how to safely get rid of an old kitchen knife?
THAT’S the question from Dyfed-Powys Police during a national week of action to tackle knife crime.
The campaign, known as Operation Sceptre, runs from today (Monday, November 9) until Sunday (November 15) and aims to keep knives and blades out of circulation, while also increasing awareness about the dangers of carrying knives.
During the week, people are being encouraged to leave unwanted knives in amnesty bins at police stations across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys
The force also wants people to know how to safely dispose of knives and blades outside of the amnesty period, and to urge anyone involved in a household clearance, or those who would consider leaving knives at a charity shop, to instead bring them to a recycling centre for safe disposal.
Inspector Andrew Williams, said: “Dyfed-Powys remains a safe place to live, work and visit, and thankfully we don’t face the level of knife crime other areas see.
“For this campaign we are changing our approach to focus on keeping knives that could travel to other areas, out of criminal hands.
“It can be difficult to know the right thing to do with an old knife when you buy a new set, or inherit them from a relative.
“We want anyone involved in household clearances, people with elderly relatives, and charity shops, to know they can take unwanted or donated knives to the tip.”
The force is also encouraging a common sense approach to selling knives and blades, after credit card blades were handed in to them during a previous amnesty.
When officers visited a store in Haverfordwest, they were presented with a box containing 42 black plastic items around the size of a credit card.
On opening the card, a hidden blade was revealed which could lock in place.
Knives with a lockable blade are illegal to carry, so officers took the items away to be destroyed.
Insp Williams said: “Many types of blades are legal to sell, but have a questionable purpose.
“We will be working with retailers to discuss the law, and what is sensible.
“We will also be working with schools, colleges and youth clubs to reinforce the message about the dangers of carrying knives among young people.
“Carrying a knife is a crime which brings that added risk that a minor issue can escalate into something much more serious and potentially life changing.
“The damage caused by knives, not just to the victim and their families, but also to the wider community, can be devastating.
“We will be doing all we can to keep knives out of the wrong hands.
“While Dyfed-Powys has not experienced the high volume of knife-related incidents seen in other forces, we are supporting our police colleagues nationally by taking part in Operation Sceptre.
“Our force has a lower rate of knife crime than the national average – in the year ending March 2018, there were 31 crimes involving knives per 100,000 of the population in Dyfed-Powys.
“Across Wales, this figure stands at 37, and nationally there were 69 knife crimes per 100,000 people during the same period.”
Local stations taking part:
Haverfordwest Police Station
Pembroke Dock Station
Cardigan Police Station
Community
Weather presenter spotted filming in Pembrokeshire
A WELL-KNOWN Welsh weather presenter was spotted in Pembrokeshire as he filmed scenes for a new series celebrating the county’s coastline.
Derek Brockway, who has been a familiar face on BBC Wales since 1995, was in St Davids recently working on another instalment of his popular walking series along the Pembrokeshire Coast.
Local resident Thomas Tudor said it was “lovely” to meet the broadcaster during filming, posing for a photograph alongside his mother, Beryl Tudor, and sister, Bethan Thomas Price.
Brockway, who is based at BBC Cymru Wales in Cardiff, is widely known not only for his weather forecasts across television, radio and online, but also for his programmes showcasing Wales’ landscapes and coastal paths.
The latest filming in St Davids is expected to form part of an upcoming series highlighting the natural beauty and walking routes of Pembrokeshire, an area long regarded as one of the jewels in Wales’ tourism crown.
Ministry of Defence
Defence families in Wales to save up to £6,000 under new childcare scheme
A MAJOR new childcare support scheme for Armed Forces families will be rolled out across Wales from September 2026, the UK Government has announced.
The initiative is expected to save eligible families up to £6,000 per child each year, providing a significant boost to household finances amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
The scheme will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement system and will bring Wales in line with the level of support already available to forces families in England.

Ministers say the move is part of a wider effort to improve recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces, with childcare costs identified as a key pressure affecting morale.
The new support will cover children from nine months old until they reach three years of age in Wales and Scotland, and up to four years old in Northern Ireland.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP announced the scheme during a visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.
He said: “Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. As the demands on defence increase, it is right that we step up our support for those who serve.
“This offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, wherever they are posted.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “Service families in Wales make huge sacrifices and deserve the best possible support.
“They contribute not only to our national security but also to the Welsh economy. This scheme delivers meaningful help with the cost of childcare.”
The scheme will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs for eligible working families. To qualify, both parents must be in employment and meet the income thresholds required for a Tax-Free Childcare account.
Hundreds of families across Wales are expected to benefit.
The announcement forms part of a broader package of support introduced since July 2024, including improved military housing, the largest Armed Forces pay rise in two decades, and plans to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant in law.
Further details will be provided in the coming months, with families encouraged to begin considering childcare arrangements ahead of the scheme’s launch.
Community
Broad Haven volunteers secure ‘national asset’ status for nature reserve
A SMALL stretch of woodland and former opencast coal mine has been transformed into a nationally recognised biodiversity site, in a major first for Wales.
The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve has been awarded ‘Naturfa’ status, becoming the first community-managed site in Wales to receive the designation.

The recognition, confirmed by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, classifies the reserve as an “Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure” (OECM). This means the volunteer-led work of the Support the Boardwalk group will now contribute directly to Wales’ 30×30 target – the global commitment to protect 30% of land, freshwater and sea for nature by 2030.
In a further boost, the site has also been included in the National Forest for Wales, recognising its role in strengthening a connected network of woodlands and habitats across the country.
Once a simple local walkway, the Slash Pond has developed into a thriving wildlife haven. The reserve now supports a wide range of species, including critically endangered European eels, otters, ten species of bat, and more than fifty species of birds, alongside diverse aquatic plants and insects.
Huw Irranca-Davies said: “These special places are a testament to the care and dedication of people working on the ground – securing a legacy for future generations. Nature can only thrive where habitats are resilient, protected and effectively managed.”
The new status is expected to unlock future funding opportunities, supporting long-term plans for maintaining the boardwalk, monitoring biodiversity and water quality, installing new signage, and expanding environmental education work with Broad Haven Primary School and the wider Havens community.
Andy Drumm, a volunteer with Support the Boardwalk, said: “We’ve always known how special the Slash Pond is, but this recognition puts it firmly on the map as a national asset. It’s a tribute to years of hard work and shows that local communities can lead the way in tackling the nature crisis.”
To mark the achievement, a Spring Family Fun Day will take place on Friday (May 9) from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Slash Pond car park.
The event will feature guided nature walks, pond dipping, a wildlife treasure trail, live music, and family activities including crafts and face painting. The official unveiling of the Naturfa certificate and new reserve branding will also take place, alongside the launch of a new book, From Culm to Calm: A History of the Slash Pond by local author David Meanwell.
Karen Riggs, a long-time volunteer, said: “This achievement belongs to everyone in Broad Haven who has supported the site over the years. We’re not just celebrating a new title – we’re celebrating what our community has built together.”
The day will also see the installation of new benches at the observation decks and the launch of a floating island habitat to support wildfowl and other bird species. Visitors will also be invited to share feedback on plans for an improved picnic area designed to withstand local flooding.
Naturfa is a Welsh Government initiative recognising areas outside traditional protected sites, such as SSSIs, that are managed in ways which deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity.
The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve is managed by the Support the Boardwalk group in partnership with The Havens Community Council, and is maintained entirely by volunteers.
Further information and updates are available via the Support the Boardwalk Facebook page.
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