News
Second homes tax premiums lowering police precepts for locals

SECOND home-owners in Pembrokeshire, in addition to paying a higher council tax, have lowered local residents’ police tax bills, a report for members of the county council will hear tomorrow.
The police precept for each non-second-home Band D property would increase by nearly £6 without a second homes premium in Pembrokeshire, members of the council’s Governance and Audit Committee heard recently.
The 100 per cent second homes premium in Pembrokeshire is also used for payment of the police precept aspect of the overall council tax bill.
Pembrokeshire’s full council meeting tomorrow, March 2, will consider a recommendation from the recent Governance and Audit Committee relating to a previous Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Mark Carter.
The Notice of Motion (NoM) on the police precept aspect of the overall council tax bill for second homes and empty properties was recently submitted by Cllr Carter, calling for an examination of the “correctness and legality” of the council collecting a premium rate on the police precept.
He calculated that amounted to an additional £1.268m being handed to police.
He added: “I would also request that the committee investigates how Dyfed Powys Police spends this extra money, how this sum of money mitigates the effects of second and empty homes in this county and benefits its residents.”
A report for committee members at the time clarified that the additional revenue was not handed over to Dyfed-Powys Police.
It stated: “Whilst the introduction of the premiums does not increase the overall funding for Dyfed-Powys Police, it does change the proportion of their costs that Pembrokeshire is expected to fund.”
This means the police precept for a non-second-home average Band D property would increase from £290.16 to £296.12 without a second homes tax premium, committee members heard.
Committee members voted to not adopt Cllr Carter’s motion after the clarifying information, recommending full council did the same.
The Notice of Motion now comes before full council, meeting tomorrow, with a recommendation it not be adopted; a report referring to the clarifications made in the earlier committee.
The report for councillors states: “The Committee concluded that although it understood why the Notice of Motion had been brought forward, the main premise of the Notice of Motion that the Dyfed Powys Police were receiving additional money was not valid.”
Council tax base changes due to any premiums or changes in the other three billing authorities [Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys] have an impact on the precept due from Pembrokeshire to Dyfed-Powys.
Crime
More than 2,000 child sexual abuse image crimes recorded in Wales last year

Private messaging platforms exploited by criminals
MORE than 2,000 child sexual abuse image offences were recorded by police forces in Wales over the past year, according to Home Office data. The figures highlight the exploitation of private messaging platforms by criminals to share illegal material, prompting renewed calls for stronger regulations.
The NSPCC has urged the UK Government to take decisive action to protect children in private messaging environments. The charity, along with Barnardo’s and the Marie Collins Foundation, has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, calling for Ofcom’s approach to private messaging to be strengthened.
Six offences recorded daily
The data shows that 2,194 child sexual abuse image crimes were recorded by Welsh police forces in 2023/24, equating to around six offences per day.
- Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 192 offences.
- South Wales Police recorded 964 offences.
- North Wales Police recorded 535 offences.
- Gwent Police recorded 503 offences.
A separate Freedom of Information request by the NSPCC revealed that, in cases where police documented the platform used by perpetrators, half (50%) of offences occurred on Snapchat. Meta platforms accounted for a quarter of cases, with 11% on Instagram, 7% on Facebook, and 6% on WhatsApp.
Call for stronger protections
In their letter to the Government, child protection charities expressed concerns over Ofcom’s Illegal Harms Code of Practice, published in December 2024. The charities argue that the code does not go far enough to protect children from the worst forms of abuse on private messaging services, despite the Online Safety Act aiming to address such risks.
Ofcom has stated that platforms are only required to remove illegal content where it is ‘technically feasible’. However, campaigners warn that this loophole allows some services to avoid implementing basic protections for children.
Police data suggests that private messaging platforms are involved in more child sexual abuse image crimes than any other type of online platform. Offenders exploit the secrecy of these services to target children and avoid detection.
The role of end-to-end encryption
The NSPCC is calling on the UK Government to push Ofcom to strengthen its codes of practice and ensure online safety regulations adequately tackle this issue. The charity also wants private messaging services, including those using end-to-end encryption, to introduce robust safeguards.
End-to-end encryption is a secure communication system where only the sender and recipient can access messages, preventing service providers from detecting illegal content. This, campaigners argue, creates a ‘safe haven’ for child abusers.
Childline reports rise in cases
Data from Childline provides further evidence of the dangers of private messaging platforms. Last year, the service delivered 903 counselling sessions to children experiencing blackmail or threats to expose or share sexual images online—a 7% increase compared to 2022/23.
One 13-year-old girl who sought help from Childline said: “I sent nude pics and videos to a stranger I met on Snapchat. I think he’s in his thirties. I don’t know what to do next. I told him I didn’t want to send him any more pictures and he started threatening me, telling me that he’ll post the pictures online. I’m feeling really angry with myself and lonely. I would like support from my friends, but I don’t want to talk to them about it as I’m worried about being judged.”
NSPCC chief executive’s warning
Chris Sherwood, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “These offences cause tremendous harm and distress to children, with much of this illegal material being repeatedly shared and viewed online. It is an outrage that in 2025 we are still seeing a blatant disregard from tech companies to prevent this illegal content from proliferating on their sites.
“Having separate rules for private messaging services lets tech bosses off the hook from putting robust protections in place. This enables crimes to continue to flourish on their platforms even though we now have the Online Safety Act.”
He added: “The Government must set out how they will take a bold stand against abuse on private messaging services and hold tech companies accountable for keeping children safe, even if it requires changes to the platform’s design. There can be no excuse for inaction or delay.”
Health
Welsh NHS Confederation calls for long-term workforce plan

Leaders urge government to address staffing challenges
THE WELSH NHS Confederation has responded to an Audit Wales report highlighting workforce challenges in the health and social care sector, calling for a fully funded, long-term staffing plan.
Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: “We welcome Audit Wales’ report on NHS workforce challenges. It’s no secret that the workforce is the lifeblood of the NHS and social care services.”
He reiterated long-standing calls for the Welsh Government to invest in a costed Long-Term Plan to create a sustainable workforce, ensuring the NHS and social care services can meet future demand.
Growing workforce, rising costs
Hughes acknowledged ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on agency staff and fill vacancies but warned that while the NHS workforce is expanding, staffing costs are rising unsustainably.
“Audit Wales rightly questions the sustainability of these rising staffing costs in the current financial climate,” he said.
Multi-disciplinary teams needed
NHS leaders believe that multi-disciplinary teams are key to meeting the evolving needs of the population. However, Hughes expressed concerns over the lack of a national workforce plan and unclear system leadership arrangements.
“Now more than ever, we must work together across NHS and social care boundaries to find long-term solutions to recruitment and retention,” he added.
The Welsh NHS Confederation represents the country’s seven local health boards, three NHS trusts, Health Education and Improvement Wales, and Digital Health and Care Wales.
Charity
RNLI on the lookout for new beach lifesavers in Pembrokeshire

LOCALLY, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is seeking budding lifeguards to launch their lifesaving careers on some of Wales’ most popular beaches.
The RNLI are recruiting beach lifesavers ahead of the 2025 season. Recruitment for this season’s lifeguard team has started nationally in preparation for providing local authorities and landowners with the service they request to keep beachgoers safe this summer. Recruitment is still open for positions in North Pembrokeshire.
The charity’s lifeguards not only rescue those in difficulty in the water, they also provide vital beach first-aid and safety advice to ensure visitors can return home safely. In 2023, RNLI lifeguards in West Wales provided patrols and responded to more than 753 incidents, helping more than 1,148 people in need, saving seven lives.
Last summer, lifeguards rescued stricken swimmers from powerful rip currents, saved children being blown offshore in inflatables, came to the aid of paddleboarders and gave lifesaving CPR on beaches among the thousands of incidents they attended.
Successful applicants will receive world-class lifesaving training, enjoy good rates of pay, the possibility of flexible working patterns and develop valuable skills for a future career.
Stuart Penfold Lead Lifeguard Supervisor for North Pembrokeshire said:
‘Being a beach lifeguard is great. Although the job can be very challenging at times, you get the chance to work alongside some incredible people, receive great training, be outdoors and most importantly, make a real difference to people’s lives.
‘The role is well suited to outgoing individuals, confident swimmers and those who are passionate about helping people. This year our lifeguard team will be patrolling Poppit Sands, Newport Sands, Whitesands, Newgale, Nolton Haven and Broad Haven.’
‘To apply to join North Pembrokeshire’s Lifeguard Team visit: Lifeguards: Haverfordwest North – Poppit Sands to Broadhaven’
Lee Fisher, Lifeguard Experience Manager said: ‘Beach lifeguarding is a great opportunity and a very rewarding role that changes lives – including your own – all whilst enjoying the beach as your office.
‘Our lifeguards range from teenagers all the way up to lifesavers in their 70s, as long as you meet the fitness requirements and you are over 16 years old, there could be a role for you.
‘The job also has great paths for progression – we have lifeguards who have been working for the RNLI for years, both on the beach and as part of our support teams, and the skills you gain can make an ideal first step towards many careers. It’s a great opportunity whether you want a rewarding summer job or to pursue a career in lifesaving.’
To find lifeguard vacancies in your area visit: Find a job (rnli.org)
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