Defence solicitor tells Haverfordwest magistrates his client was medically unable to provide a breath sample and should have been offered an alternative test

QUESTIONS have been raised over whether the interests of justice are being served after an 81-year-old motorist was charged with failing to provide a breath specimen for analysis.

Kate Telford appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week after being listed for trial following her arrest on March 1.

The court heard that she was taken to Haverfordwest police station and asked to provide a breath sample. When she failed to co-operate, she was charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

But her solicitor, Michael Kelleher, challenged the conduct of police officers during the incident, arguing that his client was physically unable to complete the test.

“The prosecution claims this was a deliberate failure to provide a breath sample, but the defendant has a growth in her mouth, a heart issue and her breathing isn’t sufficient to allow her to breathe into a breathalyser machine,” he said.

“All this information can be obtained from her doctors.

“The day she was arrested, the police should have provided her with an alternative method – a nurse was available to take blood, and there was also the option of a urine test. But basically, the police didn’t believe her and thought she was putting it all on. Even her request to sit on a chair was refused.

“This woman has no experience of criminal law, she has no previous convictions and she didn’t know how to argue her own case. Previous appeals have been refused in the interests of justice, but surely the interests of justice aren’t being met by failing to grant an appeal.”

After retiring to consider the submissions, the Bench refused Mr Kelleher’s application to appeal against the indictment.

“We have carefully considered the appeal before us and have gone through each of the five grounds,” said the presiding magistrate.

“We find that none of the factors apply to this case, therefore the appeal fails.”

Lee Miskin, 52, and Saul Miskin, 21, are accused of offences involving cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine in Pembroke Dock

TWO men have appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates charged with drug offences involving cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.

Lee Miskin, aged 52, and Saul Miskin, aged 21, both of St Davids Close, Hubberston, are each accused of possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply.

Saul Miskin is charged with possessing 261 grams of cannabis with intent to supply and 47.36 grams of amphetamine with intent to supply. He also faces three further charges of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine.

Lee Miskin is charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine. He also faces two further charges of possessing 261 grams of cannabis and 47.36 grams of amphetamine with intent to supply.

The offences are alleged to have taken place in Milton and Pennar, Pembroke Dock, between January 2023 and February 2024.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court.

Both defendants are due to enter pleas on May 8.

They were released on unconditional bail.

Home Office says national target was met early as ministers link extra patrols to arrests and anti-social behaviour crackdown

THE UK GOVERNMENT says there are now 200 more neighbourhood police officers on the beat in Wales than there were a year ago, as ministers push a wider drive to increase visible policing in communities.

The claim was made as the Home Office announced it had met its target of putting more than 3,000 additional police officers and Police Community Support Officers into neighbourhood roles across England and Wales, two months ahead of schedule.

According to figures released on Tuesday (Apr 7), a total of 3,123 extra neighbourhood policing staff have either been recruited or redeployed since April last year, with the government saying they are now focused on tackling local crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Wales Secretary, Jo Stevens said: “There are now 200 more neighbourhood police officers on the beat in Wales than a year ago, fighting the crime and anti-social behaviour that can have a huge impact on communities.

“It is a central mission of the UK Government that people feel safe in their neighbourhoods and the increased police presence is already delivering results and leading to more arrests across the country.”

Ministers say the extra officers form part of a longer-term plan to roll out 13,000 additional neighbourhood policing personnel by the end of this parliament.

The Home Office said a recent Winter of Action campaign, carried out during December and January in more than 600 towns and cities, led to almost 18,000 arrests as police patrols were stepped up.

Of those arrests, the government said more than 5,000 were linked to retail crime, more than 1,000 to sexual offences, almost 1,000 to street crime, and over 10,000 to violent assault.

Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said neighbourhood policing had been “hollowed out” in recent years and that too many officers had been kept in desk-based support roles rather than deployed on the streets.

She said: “We’re delivering the biggest reforms to policing in over 200 years and, crucially, putting 13,000 more neighbourhood officers where they belong – on the beat and fighting crime in our communities.”

The Home Office also pointed to what it described as early successes in several police force areas, including South Wales Police, which it said had reported a 37 per cent drop in home burglaries and a 14 per cent fall in anti-social behaviour.

The announcement also comes as the government launches a new strategy aimed at halving knife crime within a decade.

Under the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, ministers say every neighbourhood in England and Wales will have named, contactable officers, with residents promised a meaningful response to local concerns within 72 hours.

All police forces have also now published anti-social behaviour action plans setting out how they intend to tackle persistent local problems.

John Hayward-Cripps, chief executive of the Neighbourhood Watch Network, welcomed the increase and said stronger local relationships would help build confidence and improve the flow of intelligence from communities.

Harvinder Saimbhi, chief executive of ASB Help, said the extra officers should help reassure victims that their concerns are being taken seriously.

The government says the expansion of neighbourhood policing marks a major step towards reversing years of decline in visible local policing, though the longer-term impact on crime levels will be closely watched.