Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Crime

MPs to question Wales’ police commissioners over future of policing

Published

on

WALES’ four Police and Crime Commissioners are to be questioned by MPs over the future of policing and proposed UK Government reforms.

The Welsh Affairs Committee will hold a session on 8 July to examine what planned changes in the Police Reform Bill could mean for Wales.

A White Paper published in January set out plans to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners, the elected officials responsible for overseeing police budgets and setting the overall strategy for individual forces in England and Wales.

In England, those responsibilities are expected to pass to elected regional mayors or council leaders. However, it remains unclear who would take on those functions in Wales.

The White Paper also raised the prospect of merging some of the 43 territorial police forces across England and Wales, but there is no firm detail yet on whether Wales’ four forces could be affected.

The session will allow MPs to question the PCCs from Dyfed-Powys Police, South Wales Police, North Wales Police and Gwent Police about the likely impact of the proposed reforms.

Committee members are also expected to discuss wider policing issues affecting Wales, including violence against women and girls, the use of facial recognition technology, and whether policing should be devolved to the Welsh Government.

Ruth Jones MP, Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, said the session would be an important opportunity to examine what the reforms could mean for Welsh communities.

She said: “If PCCs are to be abolished, it is essential that any new arrangements ensure police forces in Wales remain clearly accountable to the public and that communities continue to have a strong voice in shaping policing priorities.

“We also want to explore views on the optimal number of forces for Wales and the importance of striking a balance between efficiency and preserving a strong understanding of local needs.”

Call for evidence

Ahead of the session, the committee is inviting written evidence from academic and policy experts.

It is asking how Welsh police forces should be held to account if PCCs are abolished, what lessons should be learned from the current model, and what the optimal number of police forces for Wales should be.

The committee also wants views on how other parts of the UK Government’s policing reforms could affect Wales, and the arguments for and against devolving policing to the Welsh Government.

The Welsh Affairs Committee is a House of Commons select committee. It scrutinises the work of the Wales Office and UK Government policies that affect Wales.

 

Crime

Paul Griffiths given suspended prison sentence for assaults

Published

on

A PEMBROKE Dock man has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting assaulting his former partner and his young son.

Paul Griffiths, aged 40, of Stranraer Road, Pennar, appeared for sentence this week after pleading guilty to offences arising from two separate incidents.

The court heard that, on April 16, 2022, Griffiths assaulted his former partner during an argument concerning their child.

During the dispute, he either pushed or threw a chair, which struck her leg and caused bruising.

A second incident took place on March 13, 2026, during an argument between Griffiths and his son.

The court heard that another adult intervened and told the pair to stop arguing. After the child may have thrown a teddy bear at him, Griffiths grabbed his son by the neck with both hands.

The adult stepped in and pushed Griffiths away from the child. The boy was left with reddening to his neck.

‘Utterly ashamed’

Sentencing Griffiths, the judge described the offences as “appalling”.

“You should be utterly ashamed of yourself,” the judge told him. “You assaulted your partner and your own son. You’ve lost your good character.”

For the assault on his former partner, which was classified as actual bodily harm, the judge found the offence to be of medium culpability and imposed a sentence of 24 weeks’ imprisonment.

A further eight weeks’ imprisonment was imposed for the assault on his son.

Griffiths was sentenced to a total of 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

He was also made subject to a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

 

Continue Reading

Crime

Man wanted in connection with rape investigation has Pembrokeshire links

Published

on

Police in Milford Haven and Neyland assisting Warwickshire officers in appeal to trace 23-year-old

MILFORD HAVEN and Neyland police have issued an appeal to help locate a man wanted in connection with a rape investigation.

Officers are assisting colleagues from Warwickshire Police, who are seeking information on the whereabouts of 23-year-old Rhys Trott in connection with a rape allegation in Nuneaton.

Police say Trott is believed to have links to the Milford Haven area of Pembrokeshire.

In a public appeal, Warwickshire Police said they are keen to trace Trott as part of ongoing enquiries.

Anyone who has seen him or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Warwickshire Police through their website or by quoting the relevant incident details.

Milford Haven and Neyland Police shared the appeal on social media on Tuesday (June 3), asking local residents to come forward with any information that may assist officers.

Photo caption:

Rhys Trott, 23, is wanted by Warwickshire Police in connection with a rape investigation and is believed to have links to Milford Haven (Pic: Warwickshire Police).

 

Continue Reading

Crime

Carmarthenshire pensioner jailed for child sex offences dies in hospital

Published

on

Nicholas Page, 75, died after being transferred from HMP Parc weeks after receiving a three-year sentence

A LLANELLI pensioner jailed for child sex offences has died in hospital weeks after being sentenced.

Nicholas Page, 75, of Ropewalk Road, Llanelli, died on May 7 after being transferred from HMP Parc in Bridgend to an outside hospital.

He had been sentenced to three years in prison at Swansea Crown Court in April after pleading guilty to attempting to possess indecent images of children and arranging a child sexual offence.

The court heard Page’s offending came to light after concerns were raised by a Carmarthenshire County Council care worker who regularly attended his home.

Police later executed a search warrant at Page’s address and seized his mobile phone. The court was told messages on the device showed Page had been attempting to obtain indecent images of children and arrange access to children for sexual purposes.

Prosecutor Craig Jones told the court: “The clear inference is he was paying for the provision of children to be brought to his property.”

Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC said the messages made clear that the purpose of the payments was to facilitate abuse, although he acknowledged the possibility that Page may have been “conned” by the person he was communicating with.

Page had originally been due to be sentenced in May last year but repeatedly failed to attend court, citing medical reasons without producing documentary evidence.

He was later arrested on a warrant and remanded into custody. The court was told he had remained “uncooperative” with efforts to obtain medical reports.

Defence barrister Ryan Bowen said Page was “a product of his childhood experiences”, having been placed into care at a young age and having suffered abuse during his childhood.

Page had no previous convictions.

Finding there was no realistic prospect of rehabilitation, Judge Thomas imposed a three-year prison sentence.

A spokesperson for G4S, which operates HMP Parc, said: “Mr Nicholas Page passed away at an outside hospital on May 7. As with all deaths in custody, this will be investigated by the prisons ombudsman. The cause of death will be for the coroner to determine.”

 

Continue Reading

Community2 hours ago

Crisis response dogs launched to support people through trauma and distress

A NEW project using specially trained dogs to support people during moments of trauma, grief and crisis has been launched...

News6 hours ago

Major fire breaks out at Tata Steel site in Port Talbot

TATA STEEL has confirmed that a major fire broke out at its Port Talbot steelworks on Wednesday night, with emergency...

Community1 day ago

HMS Erebus tragedy links Pembroke Dock ship to Templeton family

DNA breakthrough identifies cabin boy David Young as exhibition marks 200 years since ship’s launch ON MAY 19, 1845, a...

Community1 day ago

Narberth cash machine closures spark urgent access review

CALLS have been made for an urgent review of access to cash in Narberth after two town centre ATMs were...

Health2 days ago

First Minister quizzed on Welsh NHS pressures in his first-ever FMQs

SENEDD Members pressed the First Minister over the state of the health service in Wales, as the Plaid Cymru leader...

Community2 days ago

Historic paddle steamer Waverley to return to Fishguard this month

THE WORLD’S last seagoing paddle steamer will return to Fishguard this month as part of her annual visit to South...

Local Government2 days ago

National Express use of new Haverfordwest interchange still subject to risk checks

A RUMOUR that National Express coaches may struggle to use Haverfordwest’s new transport interchange has been denied by Pembrokeshire County...

Crime2 days ago

Milford Haven man jailed for illegal Premier League streaming service

A MILFORD HAVEN man who supplied illegal Premier League streams and loaded Firesticks to almost 2,000 customers has been jailed...

Community3 days ago

RNLI lifeguards rescue beachgoers during busy heatwave weekend

FOUR PEOPLE RESCUED AS RIP CURRENTS AND OFFSHORE WINDS HIT PEMBROKESHIRE BEACHES RNLI lifeguards in Pembrokeshire rescued four people and...

Local Government3 days ago

Council and school staff pay row could hit Pembrokeshire services

COUNCIL workers, carers and school support staff in Pembrokeshire could be drawn into a growing UK-wide pay dispute after GMB...

Popular This Week