THE VICTIMS’ Commissioner for England and Wales has welcomed plans to expand electronic tagging of offenders but warned that technology alone will not keep victims safe.

The UK Government has announced new measures to widen the use of electronic monitoring, including mandatory tagging for all prison leavers and real-time GPS tracking for high-risk offenders such as domestic abusers and burglars.

The plans also include a pilot scheme for “proximity monitoring”, designed to alert authorities if an offender approaches a victim, alongside a shift in probation resources to focus on those posing the greatest risk to the public.

Responding to the announcement, Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman said the move was a “necessary step” towards strengthening a probation system that has faced years of pressure.

She said: “I welcome the Government’s investment in expanding electronic tagging and increasing the number of probation officers managing dangerous offenders. This is a necessary step in helping to rebuild a probation service that has been under immense pressure for years.”

However, she cautioned that monitoring technology must be backed by swift enforcement.

“For many victims — particularly survivors of domestic abuse and stalking — the knowledge that an offender is being monitored can provide a vital sense of reassurance,” she said.

“But technology and innovation are only as effective as the system that supports them. Tagging must be backed by swift, robust enforcement the moment a breach occurs.”

Waxman warned that without immediate action when rules are broken, victims could be left at risk.

“Without this, there is a real risk of creating a false sense of security for victims at a time of already heightened concern,” she added.

She also stressed that while prioritising high-risk offenders is practical, lower-risk individuals should not be overlooked.

“While prioritising high-risk offenders is a pragmatic necessity, it is essential that ‘lower-risk’ is never treated as ‘no-risk’,” she said.

“Ultimately, victim safety must remain the priority.”

The Commissioner said this requires not only investment in new monitoring tools, but also ensuring the Probation Service has the capacity and expertise to act quickly when warning signs emerge.

Port Talbot jobs and future of UK steel industry in focus despite government move to curb cheap imports

WELSH steelworkers could be among the biggest beneficiaries of new UK tariffs on imported steel — but unions have warned that without a long-term plan, the industry will continue to face uncertainty.

The UK Government has confirmed it will strengthen its tariff regime from June to prevent the dumping of cheap foreign steel on the domestic market, a move welcomed by trade union Unite.

However, the union says the decision highlights a wider problem — a reactive approach that has left critical industries like steel “lurching from crisis to crisis.”

The issue is particularly significant for Wales, where the steel industry remains a cornerstone of the economy, with communities such as Port Talbot heavily reliant on the sector for jobs and investment.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite welcomes the strengthening of the UK’s tariff regime to prevent the dumping of cheap foreign steel onto the domestic market from June.

“But this last minute situation is just another reminder that the reactive approach to UK steel that sees it lurch from crisis to crisis needs to be overhauled.”

She added: “Ministers must introduce a long-term strategy that secures the future of the industry, which is vital to the UK’s economy and national security, without delay.”

The Herald understands that concerns remain across the Welsh steel sector about the pace and direction of change, particularly following the transition away from traditional blast furnace steelmaking at Port Talbot.

Unions and industry figures have repeatedly warned that the shift towards electric arc furnaces, while more environmentally sustainable, could reduce the UK’s ability to produce so-called “virgin steel” — a key material for major infrastructure and defence projects.

Unite has called on the government to go further by legislating to ensure that all major UK infrastructure developments use domestically produced steel.

The proposal would have clear implications for Wales, potentially boosting demand for steel produced at Welsh sites and helping to safeguard jobs.

Unite regional secretary Peter Hughes said: “The steel strategy must be a first step in backing the UK steel industry and steelworkers.

“Steel is a foundation industry and is critical to the success of our economy. The government must also back the production of virgin green steel as we can’t simply rely on electric arc furnaces to produce all the steel we need.”

The debate comes at a crucial time for Welsh steelmaking, with significant public investment already committed to supporting the industry’s transition to greener production methods.

While ministers have framed the tariffs as a necessary step to protect domestic producers, critics argue that without a comprehensive industrial strategy, the measures risk being a short-term fix.

For communities in south Wales, the stakes remain high. Steel is not only a major employer but a defining part of the region’s identity — and decisions made in Westminster will have lasting consequences on the ground.

As global competition intensifies and energy costs remain volatile, pressure is mounting on the UK Government to move beyond emergency interventions and set out a clear, long-term vision for the future of steel — one that secures both jobs and production capacity in Wales.

Employment down by 124 year-on-year with further monthly decline recorded in February

EMPLOYMENT in Pembrokeshire has fallen over the past year, with new figures showing a drop of 124 jobs compared with the same period in 2025.

Data for February 2026 reveals that 47,801 people were on payroll across the county, representing a 0.3% decrease year-on-year.

The latest monthly figures also show continued pressure on local businesses, with payroll numbers falling by 82 compared to January — a 0.2% drop.

The data, based on analysis of Office for National Statistics payroll figures by employment app WageSight, paints a mixed picture for the county’s labour market.

Compared with other Welsh local authorities, Pembrokeshire ranks 12th out of 22 for employment change, placing it in the lower half of performers.

The Herald understands that while some parts of Wales have seen modest job growth, others — including Pembrokeshire — continue to experience a squeeze on employment levels.

Paul Hebden, Director at WageSight said: “The latest figures underline the continued pressure on employment in Pembrokeshire. Payroll remains down compared with last year, and recent month-on-month data suggests employers are still cutting back.”

Nationally, employment trends remain uncertain, with fluctuations across different regions and sectors creating an unpredictable backdrop for businesses.

It remains unclear whether the recent decline marks the beginning of a longer-term trend or simply a short-term dip, but the figures suggest that employers in Pembrokeshire are continuing to act cautiously in the current economic climate.